The Set-Up

On October 16, 2013, the MicroAquarium was assembled. It was constructed of a glass tank, a stand holder, and a lid (Cook & McFarland 2013). Each MicroAquarium was identified by three colored dots allowing students and the instructor to know who's is who. My MicroAquarium was filled with water from the Tommy Schumpert Pond, which will be the environment for the microorganisms for the next month. This water source is located in the Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge in Knoxville County, Tennessee (McFarland 2013). The Tommy Schumpert Pond receives partial shade exposure and Sheet runoff around the sink hole (McFarland 2013). Next, different species of plants where placed inside the MicroAquarium to add to the microorganisms new habitat. Within the MicroAquarium, I added Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg which is a moss collected from the Natural Spring at Carters Mill Park with  partial shade. Also added was Fontinalis sp.,  another moss yet collected from the Holston River along the John Sevier Highway. Lastly, Utricularia gibba, a flowering carnivorous plant grown in water tanks outside of the Helser Biology Building at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, was added to the MicroAquarium (Picture 1).

Once the setup of the MicroAquarium was finished, observing the microorganisms started. Placed under the microscope and using the 10x lens, the microorganisms were view able within the MicroAquarium. I was able to see several different organisms throughout the MicroAquarium; such as long worms twitching throughout the muddy water at the bottom of the aquarium. Others included smaller yet wider microorganisms moving throughout the moss, fast and swift and skinnier microorganisms that were clear colored and moving out in the open.

                                                                         Picture 1