observations 10/28/09

-No new organisms were found this week. The food pellet is begining to dissolve and I used a pair of tweezers to break it up and help it disperse throughout the aquarium. I did notice an increase in the amount of parameciums that were in the utricularia.


Paramecium in utricularia

Midge and cyclops

observations 10/21/09

obervations 10/21/09

New organisms observed were diaptomus, cyclops, rotifer, and a midge.

Cyclops:Where to find them : Planktonic, or amongst plants, organic matter etc.Cyclops is one of the easiest pond creatures to see and identify even with the naked eye. The female often carries a pair of egg sacs and is a fast swimmer! It possesses just one eye hence it was named after the Greek mythological creature of this name.They are usually a drab green or brown but can be quite brightly coloured. Another common copepod Diaptomus has one egg sac, longer antennae, and long thin body. References and identification obtained from: (http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?)(http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/ponddip/cyclops.html)

Rotifer:Rotifers are multicelled animals.Rotifers are so transparent that all these organs can be observed easily. They have one or two light sensitive red eye spots.
There is an enormous variety of spectacular body shapes, all to suit the different lifestyles or environmental conditions. Because many species make so-called resting spores which are easily carried by the wind, they can be found anywhere if there is a little bit of water. Even in a roof gutter or in birdbaths.References and identification from: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/rotidr.html

Midge larvae:Midges are small flying insects that closely resemble mosquitoes. These insects pose no threat to pets or people and are an important part of the food chain for local and migratory waterfowl.References and identification from: http://www.mosquitoes.org/Midge.html


Diaptomus: Currently searching for better information source.

-Also observed was an increase in small organisms in the pods of the carnivourous plants.

-One pellet of fish food was added to the aquarium.(10/21/09)
("Atison's Betta Food" is made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas, 3528 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. Ingredients: Fish meal, wheat flower, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins and preservatives. Analysis: Crude Protein 36%; Crude fat 4.5%; Crude Fiber 3.5%; Moisture 8% and Ash 15%.)

Observations 10/13/09

Ostracod: Also known as seed shrimp and mussel shrimp, these small creatures date back to the cambrian era. I would describe these as looking like a microscopic hermit crab. They have diverse feeding habits including particle, plant, carrion and some are even predators on smaller animals. They are widespread and found in both marine and freshwater habitats. Some species are luminescent, emitting bluish light in bursts that last 1 - 2 seconds. They are difficult to identify down to species level. ( http://www.bumblebee.org/invertebrates/CRUSTACEAc.htm Taken 10/13/09) They are difficult to study down to the species level because their opaque bivalve shell, which usually involves dissection(Pennak 410).

Nematode: About 80,000 species of Nematode have been described so far, but some authorities estimate that there may be as many as 500,000 to 100 million species in all. They live in all environments and can parasitize nearly all animals and plants. You can expect to find around 10 million in one square yard of soil. ( http://www.bumblebee.org/invertebrates/NEMATODA.htm Taken 10/13/2009)

These are also known as roundworms. Their nearly constant and and rapid whiplike movements in a dorsoventral plane are quite characteristic, there being no changes in the body diameter and proportions(Pennak 214)

Also, the pods on the carnivorous plants contained many little organisms. These are actually little organisms called paramecium feeding off dead organisms inside the utricularia. (Knowledge of Dr. McFarland).

Paramecium are protozoa that ingest solid particles of food, including bacteria, algae, other protozoa, small metazoa, or debros, and are said to be holozoic(Pennak 24).

References:

http://www.bumblebee.org/

Ostracod, paramecium, Nematode identified and referenced with:

Pennak, Robert. 1953. Freshwater invertabrates of the United States. New York. The Ronald Press Company. p.410, 214, 24

Water and Plant Sources

10/18/2009

Water Source:Water pool below spring. Fountain City Park west of Broadway at Hotel Ave. Knox Co. Knoxville TN. Full shade exposure Spring Feed Pond N36 02.253 W83 55.986 990 ft Taken 10/12/09

Plants added to microaquarium:
Plant A: Amblystegium varium (Hedw.) Lindb. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/11/2009Plant B. Utricularia vulgaris L. Flowering
Plant B:carnivous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN.

term project