Observation 3

On Thurs. October 29th, I made my third observation of the micro aquarium. At first, I did not see much activity. However, with the help of Dr. McFarland, I identified several organisms. Using books and charts, I verified the classifications of what I was identifying.

The first thing I spied was a cube-like structure, green in color, and with a red spot at the bottom tip. It was seen near Plant A, at the bottom of the aquarium, and it was not moving. I am not sure as to what type of organism this was. Perhaps it was a type of algae. Also in Plant A, I found a fresh water protist (a ciliate). It was clear, semi-circle-shaped, and had a "squirming" motion. It was on a brown substance nestled in the foliage of Plant A. This organism appeared to be eating the brown substance. Another organism found slowly moving near Plant A was small and green. There were actually dozens of these, some moving and some not. They were possibly Desmids.

I did not see the Cyclops (copepod) from last week's observation. It is possible that this Micro Invertebrate died over the couse of last week.

Some other organisms to note were a Euglenoid--a unicellular organism with flagella and a red eye spot, a Helicoidens--single-celled protist, and some Vortacella--Protozoa with cilia in the phylum Ciliophora. There were many vortacella seen by themselves in the water.

Near Plant B, I saw an organism spiriling. Dr. McFarland identified this to be a Philodina--a rotifer (Micro Intevertebrate). It was quite interesting to watch the motion of this particular organism. Inside the bladders of Plant B were paramecium--protists. They were eating the debris that was trapped and decaying inside the bladders of the plant. While I was watching this, I also saw an Actinosphaerium--multi nuclei Protozoa with pseudopodia in the phylum Sarcodina. It was shaped like a sun with rays protruding from all sides. This organism eats rotifers. The one I was watching was immature; I could see it getting bigger over time. There was a clear organism covered in cilia or flagella crawling on the stalk of Plant B. It appeared to be feeding on the plant material. I could not identify this organism using the charts in lab. Another organism appeared to be eating Plant B. It was clear and round with a small circular head and a tail. This organism glided through the water with a smooth swimming motion. I think this was either another rotifer (Phylum Rotifera) or a daphnia (mirco invertebrate).

Several "clumps" of cube-clusters were near the bottom of the aquarium beneath Plant B. They were greenish in color. Lots of euglenoids were near these structures. More actinosphaerium were found near this area as well. Nothing was moving. One other organism seen in the bottom of the aquarium was a tiny clear ball. It was moving irratically in the bottom of the aquarium.



There is definitely more activity near Plant B in my micro aquarium. Not much is going on near Plant A. Most of the organisms I viewed during Observation 3 were things I have already seen in my micro aquarium. I would say the the amount of activity seen this week approximately equals the amount of activity seen last week in my micro aquarium.