Week 4

For the final observation, I didn't notice a big change throughout the MicroAquarium since the last observation. The water level had continued to drop however, it was half of what it started out to be and therefore the aquatic plants were mostly exposed. Yet, the plants were still mainly green although a few spots had started to brown. The beta food pellet was no longer visible. While observing, I saw the effects that the beta food pellet had on the MicroAquarium. With its presence, it had the MicroAquarium burst with microorganisms due to the nutrition added, yet I am now noticing how with its absence, the microorganisms are deceasing. With the help of McFarland, I was able to find several microorganisms that were still present. Such microorganisms were Philodina sp. (Picture 1), two Heliozoa splitting (Picture 2), and lastly Fragilaria sp. (Picture 3). When looking for organisms throughout the MicroAquarium, McFarland and I noticed that there were microorganisms present, just not in abundance as they used to be.

                                                                   Picture 1

                                                                   Picture 2

                                                                 Picture 3

                                                                   

Week 3

When observing my MicroAquarium this week I noticed several drastic changes. Such changes as the fact the water level had dropped and some of the vegetation was not submersed anymore. I also noticed how the beta food pellet was no longer there but had finally been dissolved into the water. Lastly, although the vegetation was still a vivid green, when looking for microorganisms through the microscope lenses, it appeared as if their numbers had decreased significantly. This was apparent when I was searching through the muck that was collected at the bottom of the MicroAquarium where Cyclops sp. inhabit, yet there were none present. Next, when trying to locate the Parameciulm sp. with Chlorella sp. present within it, the spot in which they were trapped within was empty. Finally after 30 minutes of looking around for microorganisms, I spotted an insect larvae moving within the vegetation. Overall, the MicroAquarium appears that it is slowly coming to an end with the microorganims beginning to die.

Week 2

This week in my MicroAquarium, I noticed a major change throughout. The MicroAquarium life had burst and there were microorganisms every where, a lot more than there was last week. I also discovered a green algae, Euglena, growing in my MicroAquarium. Euglena is a unicellular flagellate protist that can be found in fresh or salt waters and are heterotrophs and autotrophs. I also discovered numbers of slow moving organisms that were long and oval shaped. I then found out that the organisms were Paramecium sp. that had Chlorella sp. inside of each which made them have a green appearance (Video 1).

Video 1

It was assumed by McFarland that one got stuck in the intersections and overlapping of the mosses in the MicroAquarium and began reproducing asexually. Paramecium sp. are a genus of unicellular ciliate protozoa (Patterson and Hedley). Within each Paramecium sp. is Chlorella sp. that are living in a symbiotic relationship (Luna and Luna). Next, I observed what was a Stentor sp. which was trumpet shaped when extended but oval while swimming (Picture 1).

Picture 1

Lastly, I observed a Limnias sp. while it was filtering the water around itself (Video 2). This microorganism lives in a self built tube attached to the water plants around it (Pennak). Attached to it is a rotifer which uses fast moving cilia to create a vortex that allows it to sweep in food particles where the gut within the microorganism is seen grinding the food (Pennak). 

                                

  Video 2