Week 2 Observations

Observations 10/22/10:


I conducted observations ten days after initial setup of the micro-aquarium, the water level stayed the same, but the amount of organisms I observed was defiantly greater than the initial setup.


Organisms:
In my micro aquarium I observed and identified a few of the species swimming around in the tank, but the most obvious change in system was the amount of rectangle shaped diatoms- going from a mere handful the day of initial setup to hardly being able to move the microscope without seeing at least one, and there was a whole colony of countless diatoms at the bottom of the tank.


I also observed three more ostracods than the initial observation- bring the total to five, as well as several rotifers and cynobacteria. 


In the "bladders" of my bladderwort plant there also was a whole host of small organisms that just wiggled around inside the plant structure.


Ostracods:


Like the copepods, the ostracods are very numerous in both freshwater and marine environments. There are 2000 living species. The larger marine species are also known as mussel shrimps or seed shrimps, but the freshwater ostracods are usually smaller than a millimeter. In freshwater ponds they are usually found scuttling around among the submerged plants and debris at the shallow edges, and less commonly in the open waters. They swim smoothly with appendages extended from between the two halves of their carapace. When disturbed, they withdraw their limbs and clamp the halves of their tiny shells tightly together. (Cypris, 2000)


Rotifers:

• Rotifers are multicelled animals. Because they are so small most people have never heard of their       existence. They are about the same size as the larger unicellular organisms. They don't have a lot of cells, less than 1000, but they have some very special attributes. They are wonders of miniature design.
• At the front of the body they possess a crown of hair-like cilia. They locomote by using the crown of cilia (the corona) to propel themselves. Some species walk with head and foot. Their foot can secrete a sticky substance that enables them to attach to a surface.
• They also use the crown of cilia to wave food into their mouth. There the food is passed into the 'mastax' where two so-called 'trophi' process the food before it is directed towards the gut. Rotifers are so transparent that all these organs can be observed easily.
• They have one or two light sensitive red eye spots.
• There is an enormous variety of spectacular body shapes, all to suit the different lifestyles or environmental conditions.
• Because many species make so-called resting spores which are easily carried by the wind, they can be found anywhere if there is a little bit of water. Even in a roof gutter or in birdbaths. (Egmond,1995)

Cynobacteria:

Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic, that is, they live in the water, and can manufacture their own food. Because they are bacteria, they are quite small and usually unicellular, though they often grow in colonies large enough to see. They have the distinction of being the oldest known fossils, more than 3.5 billion years old, in fact! It may surprise you then to know that the cyanobacteria are still around; they are one of the largest and most important groups of bacteria on earth. (Berkley)

Diatoms:

• Diatoms are delicate unicellular organisms that have a yellow-brown chloroplast that enables them to photosynthesize. Their cell walls are made of silica almost like a glass house. The construction of the cell wall, called the frustule, consists of two valves that fit into each other like a little pill box.
• The colour of the chloroplast is yellow-brown instead of the green we know of other creatures that use light as a source for energy. (Egmond, 1995)

Beta Food Pellet:


On Friday, 10/22/10 there was a beta fish food pellet added to my micro aquarium, ten days after the initial setup.

 "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%.


Citations:
2010 [cited 2010 Oct 24].Cynobacteria: Life History and Ecology. [Internet]. California: University of California Museum of Paleontology. Available from: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/cyanolh.html.
Cypris . 2010 [cited 2010 Oct 24].Crustaceans: Freshwater Ostracods and Shrimp. [Internet]. Micrographia. Available from: http://www.micrographia.com/specbiol/crustac/ostraco/ostr0100.htm.
Egmond W V. 2010 [cited 2010 Oct 24].Rotifers. [Internet]. United Kingdom: Microscopy-uk. Available from: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/rotidr.html.
Egmond W V. 2010 [cited 2010 Oct 24].Diatoms. [Internet]. United Kingdom: Microscopy-uk. Available from: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/diadr.html.