Observation #4

This final week my microaquarium seemed very active. Like last time I did not see as many cyclops as I did at the beginning, but many halteria and other fast moving aquatic creatures were present. This time I collected an image of a Peranema. Peranemas have an oblong shape an are easily identified by the long flagella at the end of their body. Peranema feed by engulfing euglenids. Their thick flagellum can be used to whip through the water and rapidly change course, or just the tip can be used be used to move the cell smoothly through the water. They are able to digest bacteria, algae, and even large organisms by expanding their cytosome which lies at the base of the flagellum. Peranemas are common in water with rich organic nutrients(Peranema). I was able to identify the Peranema on page 51(source 1).

1.Pennak, Robert W. Fresh-water Invertebrates of the United States. New York: Ronald, 1953. Print.
2."Peranema." Peranema. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <http://www.microscope-microscope.org/applications/pond-critters/protozoans/mastigophora/peranema.htm>.

Observation #3

This week I noticed many more worm-like structures than previously. The past couple weeks I have seen little to none. Strangely I saw no cyclops. The other times I saw at least five different cyclops if not more.I saw a multitude of Rotifers and Halteria. My microaquarium seemed to be predominantly Halteria. Halteria have spherical shaped bodies with five to six leg like structures. They have a contractile vacuole and move very rapidly by jumping and they also have a rotary swimming movement(Curds).Though they move rapidly and are very small I was lucky enough to get a picture. I was able to identify the organism on page 139(source 1).

1.1.Pennak, Robert W. Fresh-water Invertebrates of the United States. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1978. Print.
2.Curds, Colin. "Halteria." N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nies.go.jp%2Fchiiki1%2Fprotoz%2Fmorpho%2Fhalteria.htm>.

Observation#2

Dr. Mcfarland added one beta food pellet into my microaquarium on October 24, 2014. The following information describes in detail about the food pellet:"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%.
I did not see many changes in my microaquarium. I still saw multiple cyclops, but I did manage to obtain a good picture of a Euglena helicoides. I was able to identify it as a euglenoid because of its eye spot at the top of its body. I noticed that there were multiple diatoms in the euglenoid. Many euglenoids swim by using their flagella. Of the forty genera of euglenoids, about 2/3 are heterotrophic and the other 1/3 are able to photosynthesize. Freshwater euglenoids have a contractile vacuole. Euglenoids are able to sens light by using their eyespot. Majority of the 900 euglenoid species live in freshwater environments. Euglenoids flourish under high nutrient levels("Euglenoids", source 2) I was able to identify this specific species on page 283 from my first source in my bibliography.

1.Forest, Herman Silva. Handbook of Algae. Knoxville: U of Tennessee, 1954. Print.
2.Euglenoids." Euglenoids. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. <http://fmp.conncoll.edu/Silicasecchidisk/LucidKeys/Carolina_Key/html/Euglenoids.html

Observation #1

      It only took me about two or three minutes peering into the microscope to see that I had a multitude of cyclops in my MicroAquarium. Most of the cyclops that I was seeing had egg sacks attached to their abdomens. They were rapid in their movement, but would sometimes remain still for a few seconds. The cyclops has six pairs of swimming legs and sudden movements of their limbs shovel food towards their mouth.They seemed to enjoy being near plant material or digging in the soil. In fact, I saw five cyclops as I studied over the soil. While they were in the soil I was able to observe these sudden jerky movements of their limbs to feed themselves. As they dug into the soil, they were constantly shoveling food into their mouths.
      The cyclops has only one eye spot located at the head. It looks very similar to plankton and shrimp, therefore it is no surprise that it is in the crustacean family. With Dr. McFarland's help I was also able to identify an immature cyclops(Cyclops nauplius). This little guy moved very quickly, but fortunately I was able to get a decent shot of it. The body was very round and it had begun to form small antennas. I spotted this cyclops lower middle of the MicroAquarium near a plant material. I was able to identify these organisms on page 415 in Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States( source one in bibliography).

 

                                      
1.Pennak, Robert W. Fresh-water Invertebrates of the United States. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1978. Print.

Setting up my MicroAquarium

1. I obtained a glass tank, stand holder and lid.(MicroAquarium).
2. I used a pipet to extract water from a container that contained water from the following water source:(Tommy Schumpert Pond, Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge, Kelly Lane , Knox Co. Tennessee. Partial shade exposure Sheet runoff around sink hole. N35 57.256 W83 41.503 947 ft 10/12/2014).
a. I extracted water from the bottom of the container and filled the MicroAquarium tank about 1/3 full.
b. I obtained the next 1/3 of water from the middle section of the tank.
c. I filled the rest of the tank with water from the surface of the container.
3. Lastly, I took a small strand from a plant and from a moss and put them into my MicroAquarium. The following information are their water sources and scientific names.
a. Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg. Moss.
Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/12/2014
b.Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A
carnivorous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler
Biology Building. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN.
10/12/2014