Observation 11/3/11

The MicroAquarium is alive and well. The biological development of this tank has grown 10fold in the past week.

This is the additive that Dr. McFarland put in the tank. As you could see, countless upon countless nematodes and Cladoceran surround the seed and feed off of its nutrient. The nematodes will push themselves into the seed and then resurface within minutes. The cladoceran will seemingly at random move about the seed and scrape off any nutrient they can feed on.

 

There was also an infestation of chilomanas just above the dirt. some with and without flagella(or unseen flagella). They would move around in a circular random motion. I could not identify what they liked to feed on but it seemed like they hovered over small particles and the particles would disappear. 

The Cyanobacteria has doubled. It was almost impossible to identify organisms under and through the strands at certain places

 

This is a picture of a bulb coming off of a plant that a flat worm or Planaria found very interesting. He would scour the sides of it and then would float away and come for more. You can also see the Cyanobacteria plastering the out of focus. 

Thats all Folks ! See you next week on TALES OF INTEREST (otherwise known as Botany BLOG!!)

Observation 10/27/11

This observation brought an entirely new meaning to the idea of something "festering in the water".
To say the least; the water was filled life.

The amount of Cyanobacteria that plastered the walls of the MicroAquarium almost doubled.

Nematodes have started appearing.

 The most common specimen in the aquarium is the Cladoceran.

I also found a few planaria and alot of chilomanas.



I think the reason the amount of wildlife quintupled is the additive Dr. McFarland dropped into the tank. There was a large seed-like structure that majority of the life circled around. Quite exciting and super gross if I do say so myself

Observation 10/20/11

 10/20/11

The first thing I noticed initially was the water itself. It had a slight green tent that was not present when we initially began the MicroAquarium. I thought it suggested that biological life had been promoted within the MicroAquarium, and I was VERY right.

Under the microscope, I noticed that there were hundreds of these thin hair-like strands that plastered the glass walls near the soil . Some moved around slightly, some stayed still, and they were all tangled and intertwined.. I could not get a great, zoomed in view of the strands; therefore I could not see any cell make up, but if I had to identify them I would say they are Cyanobacteria.

The number of floating transparent entities increased ten fold.

The main event of this MicroAquarium would have to be Jesse, my big arthropod. Jesse is an adult water flea. Massive this creature was, she straddled the limbs of the plants and would cypher particles into its jaws; I could see particles flowing into its mouth. It had massive a massive brown body, shaped like a tick, and 6 jointed limbs. I do believe she was pregnant because I later found 2 small water flea larva. These particular larva had hundreds of tiny legs; it reminded me of a centipede, and it moved in quick, popping bursts,

I am very eager to get pictures on here next week.  NO one would help me with the camera!!!

-carson

Micro-Aquarium... Assemble!!

Today we were introduced to the Micro-Aquarium. Its a small,very thin aquarium that is roughly the size of a playing card and its purpose is to sustain micro-life. We were given the Micro-Aquarium and we filled it with a "special water" that was collected from various ponds, creeks, lakes, and birdbaths across Knoxville. The significance of this water is that it is FILLED with organisms. The water I chose came from a flooded out cemetery. Details below: 

 

10. Water pool below spring. Lynnhurst Cemetery

10. Water pool below spring. Lynnhurst Cemetery off of Adair Drive. Knox Co. Knoxville TN. Partial shade exposure Spring Feed Pond N36 01.357 W83 55.731 958 ft 10/9/2011

 

 

The good Dr. McFarland also had us place two plant organisms inside the aquarium. They looked to be grass.