Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Final Micro Aquarium Observation

The water in the aquarium seems to be decreasing at a faster rate. There are now four large Dero vagus and very dew small ones. There was one small dead near the bottom of the tank. There are still several diatoms clustered around the bottom of the tank. There are more Lacrymaria around the plants and in open space than before. There are less Coleps. The small sead-like particles found on the Utricularia gibba have turned from blacks to clears and blues. Some have also been inhabited by different small organisms. Also, the Amblestegium varium has a fuzzy red substance growing along it.





Citations:
1. Patterson, DJ. 1992. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: A color guide. London (UK): Manson Publishing           Ltd. 163 p. Fig. 377.& 149 p. Fig. 331.
2. Pennak, Robert W. 1989. Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States: Protozoa to Mollusca. 3rd ed.        United States:John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 228, 229, & 301 p.
3. Patrick, Ruth. Reimer, Charles W. 1966. The Diatoms of the United States. Philadelphia: The Livingston          Publishing Company. 650 p.
4. McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [23 October 2013]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/

Monday, November 11, 2013

My Micro Aquarium Week 3

          There are several more Diatoms this week. They can be found all throughout the aquarium. The smaller Dero Vagus's have grown. There are now three large Dero Vagus and they have all moved to the plants. There are two eating in the Utricularia gibba and one in the Amblestegium varium. I also found several Lacrymaria towards the bottom of they tank (Patterson, 1992). They extend and retract themselves and they swim a bit like a snake. They are very worm-like and are multicellular without Chlorophyll.

Citation:
1. Patterson, DJ. 1992. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: A color guide. London (UK): Manson Publishing           Ltd. 138 p. Fig. 301.

Monday, November 4, 2013

My Micro Aquarium Week 2

There was a beta food pellet in my aquarium this week. There was a frenzy of activity around the food, mostly Coleps(Patterson, 1992). The number of Coleps throughout the aquarium has increased significantly. The larger Dero (Pennak, 1989) is about the same. It moved more toward the bottom middle of the tank. The smaller Deros ( Pennak, 1989) have decreased in number but the ones I saw were larger than before. Overall, there is much more life all throughout the tank. Most organisms have increased in number. I identified two new organisms. They are the Cyclidium (Patterson, 1992) and the Pinnularia (Patrick, 1966).


Cyclidium (Patterson, 1992) 149p. Fig. 331 

I found Cyclidium in the open water near the bottom of the tank. It would have very sudden movements after being still for a moment. It is a multicellular organism without chlorophyll. There were several in the aquarium.

Pinnularia (Patrick, 1966) 650 p.
The Pinnularia was found around the middle of the tank in open water. I only saw a few of them. This is a multicellular organism without chlorophyll.

Bibliography:

1. Patterson, DJ. 1992. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: A color guide. London (UK): Manson Publishing           Ltd. 163 p. Fig. 377. & 149 p. Fig. 331.
2. Pennak, Robert W. 1989. Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States: Protozoa to Mollusca. 3rd ed.        United States:John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 228, 229, & 301 p.
3. Patrick, Ruth. Reimer, Charles W. 1966. The Diatoms of the United States. Philadelphia: The Livingston Publishing Company. 650 p.