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