MicroAquarium Day 5

Prior to this examination day, I broke my MicroAquarium the week before. I had to exchange all the material and plants to a new container. I thought that since I disrupted the environment the plant life would slow down or stop for a certain time; fortunately, there was actually new life in the MicroAquarium that I had not seen. Under closer inspection I discovered a few developing organisms that I had not seen. A small midge was developing on a jumbled piece of Utricularia gibba  floating near a new food pellet. This is surprising because I was getting the thought that my MicroAquarium was slowly dieing because I had not seen as much activity like I had seen in the first few weeks. Another find was a smaller Planera like the one I had lost track of but now there is a new one. My only expectations are to see the Midge develop more and possibly see the Midge develop into an insect. As for the Planera, I hope this time it does not disappear like the last one and continues to develop. A few things that I noticed were no longer visible were the green small strands of what look like new plant tissue or possibly the moss growing outward. Since I broke the MicroAquarium, I guess that anything that was developing either spilled out on the table or just stopped.

MicroAquarium Observation Day 4

A few different things I noted was that there was not as many Tropidoscyphus as last time. My guess is that some have have developed into other organisms; however, I noticed that there is almost a layer of green fibers laying across the soil. My hypothesis is that the layers of green fibers may be from the Amblestegium moss. Another thing I noted is that there seems to be little green stems growing from the soil almost like the plants are spreading out, but I just think it is a coincidence that the fibers look like that. The Netrium have also gained a deeper green color compared to how each looked the last week. A food pellet was dropped into the water recently so next week I should expect to find more activity.

MicroAquarium Observation Day 3

After a few days, the biggest thing I noticed was that were many microorganisms. These seem to be Tropidoscyphus that were surrounding a huge mass that may have been a ball of dissolving food. The Netrium have grown slightly in size and have elongated as well the Turbellaria. The plants themselves have not grown much more; my guess is that the plants are constricted in space and can not grow much more. However, I notice that the Tropidoscyphus was a new creature that I discovered, so that means that new forming organisms are beginning to show up. Unfortunately, I was hoping to find the Midge but it seems as though it may have already turned into an adult and flew away. That is disappointing; I would have like to see it in person but oh well.

(Smith Figure 219)

(Smith Figure 219)

(This picture shows the Tropidoscyphus more closely zoomed. You can see the flagella as a slight line behind this organism.)

Works Cited

Smith M. G. 1950. The Fresh-Water Algae of The United States. 2nd ed. New York (NY): McGraw-Hill Book Company. Figure 219.

MicroAquarium Observation Day 2

 

(Smith 1950)

(Ward 1918: Figure 600)

I noticed that the water level lowered significantly due to the photosynthesis of the plants. Attached to the Utricularia gibba were bladders. These bladders are used to attached little organisms, and these organisms are caught in the bladders and digested; this is because the plant is carnivorous. There were also several Netrium floating around the leaves along with one Turbellaria floating around near the soil and eating material. The most different thing I noticed was a Midge or a larva that was squirming around in the soil eating material. Yesterday one 'Beta Food Pellet' was put as a food source for the animals. This was approximately more than a week of development under light. The next thing I would expect to notice is what that larva will turn into. My hypothesis is that the larva will develop into an animal after another week.

(Ward 1918: Figure 1384)

Works Cited

Smith M. G. 1950. The Fresh-Water Algae of The United States. 2nd ed. New York (NY): McGraw-Hill Book Company. Figure  219. 

Ward B. H. 1918. Fresh-Water Biology. 1st ed. New York(NY): John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Figure 1384

Ward B. H. 1918. Fresh-Water Biology. 1st ed. New York(NY): John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Figure 600

"Atison's Betta Food" made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas, 3528 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104.

MicroAquarium Day 1

After making the Micro-aquarium today, I selected to use the water from the Pond at Sterchi Hills Greenway Trail. The reason behind choosing the kind of water I wanted was random; however, my first thought was to choose the Lynnhurst Cemetery water, but I changed my mind. Once I inserted my two plants, which are the Moss and the flowering plant, I laid my aquarium under the microscope and noticed a few cool things. Along with locating the cell walls and membranes of the plants, I noticed there were tiny moving creatures in the sediment. I was not sure how many since the light seemed to increase the movement of the animals. I suppose these animals never see the light of day, but there was a few living in there. All in all the first day was interesting.