Week 2

I have observed quite a few changes in my MicroAquarium since last week. Many organisms have seemed to have vanished and others have flourished. There have especially been a few new organisms that have slipped under the lens from last week:


Throughout the top half the aquarium I have seen at least 4 different organisms of the genus Loxophyllum (Patterson 1992). One side is very thick and smooth while the other has several wart-like structures along with the proboscis. Most of these have been seen with smaller organisms inside of them and I have even observed one consuming one of the smaller organisms.


All throughout the aquarium were many single (not colonial) peritrich ciliate protozoa which were assumed as Vorticella by the shape and structure of their bells and springing stalks (Patterson 1992).


Many rotifers have been spotted along the top and middle thirds. These were relatively stationary with only occasional movement in proximal areas only. The organisms were later identified as Rotifer citrinus by the location of their eyes (Ward and Whipple 1918).

A translucent annelid was spotted at the very top of the aquarium at the border of the water. It was very difficult to observe and the only distinctive observation at the time was its red gobules. Another was found behind the glue of the aquarium and again it was very hard to get a clear image of it, but I found many large grouped structures along its body called setae. The next day I came into lab and saw quite a few more, this time in more ideal spots for observation. These annelids are of the genus Aeolosomatidae. Its gut is continuous without distincitve regions and the body is unsegmented (Smith 2001).


There have also been changes in the number of organisms observed the previous week.

The number of Cyclops have decreased, with only two remaining in their likely environment, toward the bottom of the aquarium. There were also a few skeletons in the bottom.

Many more Actinospaerium have sprouted in the aquarium and have moved from only the bottom section upward toward the top the aquarium.

Spirogyra have also reproduced much and have spread up to the middle of the aquarium.

Citations

Patterson, D. J. (1992).Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p131, 132. Fig. 282, 283. 223 pgs.

Patterson, D. J. (1992). Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p133. Fig. 233, 235. 223 pgs.

Ward, H. B. (1918). Fresh-Water Biology. Boston: Stabope Press. p618, 619. Fig. 958. 1111 pgs.

Smith, D. G. (2001). Pennak's Freashwater Invertebrates of the United States. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p275, 276. 638 pgs.