observation #5

Todays observation was so many times more productive than last weeks. The beta food pellet added last week on 11/14/13 has caused the entire micro aquarium to come back to life. The micro aquarium was very similar to what I saw in observation #3(11/4/13). I assume that this is due to the addition of beta food pellets after observation #2(pellet added on10/25/13) and observation #4(pellet added on 11/14/13) which caused a huge increase in the amount of living and mobile microorganisms both times. Many of the organisms I have previously seen and taken note of, are located in the same general locations that I had previously seen them.

 above: unknown

 above: unknown diatom(McFarland, 2013)

Professor McFarland was certain this is a diatom but he wasn't able to specify what type of diatom it is.  

above: Unknown

above: unknown

above: Ftagellaria (Russel, Rainis 1996)

Located in the same areas in water and near plants as when seen before in observation 3 with about the same distribution and total number as seen before.

above: Cyclidium (Patterson 1996)

Bibliography, 

Rainis, Kenneth G., and Bruce J. Russell. Guide to Microlife. Danbury Conn.: New York, 1996. Print.
Patterson, D. J. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: A Colour Guide. London: Manson, 1996. Print.
McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited ADD DATE]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/

observation #4

My observation this week was a little disappointing due to the fact that almost all of the life I have been observing in my micro aquarium has ceased, or at least seems to be nonexistant. I found most of the organisms I observed in my 2nd and 3rd observations but there were far fewer and most seemed to be either dead or extremely inactive. Professor McFarland instructed my lab partner and I to add another beta food pellet to our micro aquariums after we were finished with our observations so that we will have more to observe next week.

 above: Anabaena (Russel, Rainis 1996)

above: unknown

above: unknown

Bibliography,
Rainis, Kenneth G., and Bruce J. Russell. Guide to Microlife. Danbury Conn.: New York, 1996. Print.
Patterson, D. J. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: A Colour Guide. London: Manson, 1996. Print.

observation #3

After observation #2 professor McFarland has added beta food pellets to our micro aquariums.These pellets have caused a drastic increase in lifeforms present the aquarium. Today professor McFarland and myself located and photographed about 12 different species. Then we tried to identify all of them but only managed to identify about half. Life was distributed throughout the aquarium but was by far the most prolific near the beta food pellets that were added last week. here are some of the organisms we photographed(i wasn't able to crop all of them so i couldn't upload all 12)

above: Tachysoma(Patterson 1996)

Located near the beta food pellet

above: Anisonema(Patterson 1996)

Located near the beta food pellet 

 

above: Unknown

above: unknown

above: Ftagellaria(Russel, Rainis 1996)

Located in the vegetation suspended in the water

above: Epalaxis sp (Patterson 1996)

Located near the beta food pellet

above: Litonotus sp (Patterson 1996)

Located near the beta food pellet

above: Litonotus sp (Patterson 1996)

This is only a second picture of the organism pictured above it. i just thought it was really neat

above:  Pleuronema sp (Patterson 1996)

Located throughout the entire micro aquarium

Bibliography,
Rainis, Kenneth G., and Bruce J. Russell. Guide to Microlife. Danbury Conn.: New York, 1996. Print.
Patterson, D. J. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: A Colour Guide. London: Manson, 1996. Print.

observation #2

My observation last thursday 24/10/13  was disappointing, my micro aquarium didn't seem to have any non-stationary organisms. On Friday October 25, 2013 "ONE" Beta Food Pellet will be inserted into each micro-aquarium  "Atison's Betta Food" 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%(McFarland, 2013). Hopefully after the addition of these beta food pellets more active organisms will start to appear and I will have something new to post after my next observation(#3)




Bibliography,
McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [24/10/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/

First observations

I set up my micro aquarium in lab on 16/10/13 using the following materials provided by my lab instructor we created our micro micro-aquariums: water labeled #4 which was taken from the Holston River along John Sevier Hwy under I 40 Bridge Partial shade exposure Holston River water Shed N36 00.527 W83 49.549 823 ft 10/13/2013(McFarland, 2013), Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/13/2013(McFarland, 2013), Fontinalis sp. Moss. Collected from: Holston River along John Sevier Hwy under I 40 Bridge Partial shade exposure Holston River water Shed N36 00.527 W83 49.549 823 ft 10/13/2013(McFarland, 2013), Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivorous 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. 10/13/2013(McFarland, 2013), a 75 X 50 X 4mm glass chamber designed for studying small aquatic organisms with a compound or dissecting microscope.  It is made with two 75 X 50 cm microscope slide glasses sandwiched together with a 2mm space between.  It is sealed on three sides (two short and one long side) with 100% Silicone Aquarium Sealant from All-Glass Aquarium Co., Franklin, WI– www.all-glass.com. The MicroAquarium™ is stored vertically (open end up) in a plastic stand with a clear plastic cap over the opening(McFarland, 2013). I only noticed stationary organisms with no activity but i think this was due to the shock from going through such a drastic environment change. I expect to see more activity in the next observation since the aquarium will have had time to settle and become stable. They will stored at a Temperature range of 15.6⁰ – 17.9⁰ C, and will be exposed to two light sources: primary lighting provided from 1 – 15 cm, 30 watt cool light fluorescent lamps suspended 150cm above MicroAquarium™, and Incidental lighting from the classroom’s 121 cm long 40 watt cool light fluorescent ceiling fixtures. Light exposure times include: suspended light fixture illumination 24 hrs/day,  and ceiling lights illumination at random time periods between 8:00 AM – 12:00PM during the duration of experiment(McFarland, 2013). 

Bibliography,

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [16/10/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/