Final Observations Week 5

Observations on Thursday November the 14th 2013. The last week of observations were done at the bottom, middle, and top of the micro aquarium. Many of the micro organisms seen throughout the blog are still surviving. Some of the diatoms though have died, their silica cell walls are no longer  intact. In lieu of their death a service was held by some of their good friends the amoebas. At the bottom of the micro aquarium a new micro organisms were identified. One of them can be seen in figure 1 the Tachysoma sp. identified by Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa by D. J. Patterson. Another one the Pediastruim sp. in figure 2 was seen in the middle of the micro aquarium and was identified by Handbook of Algae by Herman Silva Forest. With in the micro aquarium a abundance of life can be seen with a microscope, in total over eleven micro organisms where identified, but many more where observed.  

                                                                  Figure 1. Tachysoma sp. Seen moving back and forth from the bottom to the middle of the micro aquarium.     

                                                                  Figure 2. Pediastruim sp. . Seen stationary in the middle of the micro aquarium. 

References:
Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. November 14, 2013. Figures 1-2.

Forest H S. 1954. Handbook of Algae. 1st ed. Knoxville (TN): The University of Tennessee Press. 100 p.

Patterson D J. 2003. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. 2nd ed. reprinted by 1752 N Street NW, Washington DC (VA): AMS Press. 125 p.
 

Observations of Micro Aquarium Week 4

Observations on Wednesday November the 6th 2013. This weeks observations were done near the middle of the micro aquarium were most of the plant life exists. With in the plant life several  Euchlanis Rotifer sp. (Pennak 1953) were seen  moving in and out of the Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg (McFarland 2013). Also seen was one Vorticella sp. (Patterson 2003) attached to Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg (McFarland 2013) and three attached to different areas of the Fontinalis sp. (McFarland 2013). The abundance of micro organisms in a small area of the micro aquarium are astonishing. In scanning the micro aquarium a Nematode sp. (Ward 1918) was seen, below in figures 1-4 of it dancing. Also in figure 4 below the Nematode sp. there is an Amoeba sp. floating around. The Nematode sp. was identified using the book Fresh-Water Biology by Ward and Whipple. The Amoeba sp. was subjectively identified by Mr. McFarland. 
                                                                  Figure 1. Nematode sp. curling up.

                                                                  Figure 2. Nematode sp. curled up.

                                                                  Figure 3. Nematode sp. uncurling.

                                          Figure 4. Nematode sp.  done with the dance. Below the Nematode sp. an Amoeba sp.
                                                                                  can be seen floating around admiring the dance.

 

References:
Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. November 6, 2013. Figures 1-4.
 
McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 11/11/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/ In text citation. (McFarland, 2013)

Patterson D J. 2003. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. 2nd ed. reprinted by 1752 N Street NW, Washington DC (VA): AMS Press. 113, 149 p.
 
Pennak Ph.D. R W. 1953. Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States. 1st ed. New York (NY): The Ronald Press Company. 170, 171 p.

Ward H B, Whipple G C 1918. Fresh-Water Biology. 1st ed. Boston (MA): Stanbope Press P. H. Gilson Company. 459-482 p.

Observations of Micro Aquarium Week 3

Observations on Wednesday October 30th 2013. This week the middle to the top of the micro aquarium was observed. Micro organisms are still very abundant and active near the bottom, but in the middle to the top of the micro aquarium there is a copious amount in week 3 compared to week 2 observation. Some micro organisms seen are subjectively identified as diatoms and amoebas, and are very abundant in all areas of the micro aquarium. Identified micro organisms are below with pictures and some characteristics. Figures 1 and 2 were identified with the book Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa, by D. J. Patterson, and figure 3 was identified with the book Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States, by Ph. D. Ronald W. Pennak.

 Figure 1. Vorticella sp. Seen attached to Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg plant near the middle top of the micro 
                 aquarium. (McFarland 2013) 

Figure 2. Cyclidium sp. Seen stationary at the top of the micro aquarium. A suspension feeding scuticociliate. 
               (Patterson 2003)

Figure 3. Euchlanis Rotifer sp. Seen moving around the top and middle of micro aquarium.  

References:

Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. October 30, 2013. Figures 1-3.

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 11/4/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/ In text citation. (McFarland, 2013)


Patterson D J. 2003. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. 2nd ed. reprinted by 1752 N Street NW, Washington DC (VA): AMS Press. 113, 149 p.
 
Pennak Ph.D. R W. 1953. Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States. 1st ed. New York (NY): The Ronald Press Company. 170, 171 p.

Observations in Micro Aquarium Week 2

Observations on Friday October the 25Th 2013. The composition of the micro aquarium is becoming very diverse with many micro organisms moving around, mostly in the middle and bottom of the micro aquarium. Near the middle and top of the micro aquarium some cyclops were swimming very fast across the the view of the microscope, so fast a picture could not be obtained. Also one pellet of food was added on this day, type:"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%.(McFarland, 2013)  Below are images of identified micro organisms seen at the middle and near the bottom of the micro aquarium. Figures 1 and 2 where identified with the book Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa, by D. J. Patterson, and figure 3 was identified with the book Freshwater Algae their microscopic world explored, by Hilda Canter-Lund and John W. G. Lund. Further information will have to be allocated and updated to explain organisms genetics and cell types.

Figure 1. Halteria sp. seen moving in circles near middle of micro aquarium.

Figure 2. Peranema sp. this micro organism was seen moving all across the middle and near the bottom of micro aquarium.

Figure 3. Surirella sp. seen at bottom in  plant and soil debris.

   References:
Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. October 25, 2013. Figures 1-3.

Lund J W G, Canter-Lund Hilda. 1995. Freshwater Algae: their microscopic world explored. 1st ed. printed by The Orchard Clanage Road, Bristol England: Biopress Ltd. 126, 127 p.

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 10/28/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/ In text citation. (McFarland, 2013)

Patterson D J. 2003. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. 2nd ed. reprinted by 1752 N Street NW, Washington DC (VA): AMS Press. 139, 51 p.

Bibliography

Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. October 15, 2013

Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. October 25, 2013. Figures 1-3.

Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. October 30, 2013. Figures 1-3.

Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. November 6, 2013. Figures 1-4.

Botany Lab at UTK. Room 507. November 14, 2013. Figures 1-2.
 
Forest H S. 1954. Handbook of Algae. 1st ed. Knoxville (TN): The University of Tennessee Press. 100 p.

Lund J W G, Canter-Lund Hilda. 1995. Freshwater Algae: their microscopic world explored. 1st ed. printed by The Orchard Clanage Road, Bristol England: Biopress Ltd. 126, 127 p.

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 10/20/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/ In text citation. (McFarland, 2013)

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 10/28/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/ In text citation. (McFarland, 2013)

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 11/4/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/ In text citation. (McFarland, 2013)

McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 11/11/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/ In text citation. (McFarland, 2013)

Pennak Ph.D. R W. 1953. Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States. 1st ed. New York (NY): The Ronald Press Company. 170, 171 p.

Patterson D J. 2003. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. 2nd ed. reprinted by 1752 N Street NW, Washington DC (VA): AMS Press. 139, 51, 125, 113, 149 p.

Ward H B, Whipple G C 1918. Fresh-Water Biology. 1st ed. Boston (MA): Stanbope Press P. H. Gilson Company. 459-482 p.

Figures 1-4 from my(Andrea D. Finley) iPhone.

Creating a Micro Aquarium

Micro aquarium was created on Tuesday October 15th.

The water source used in my micro aquarium was 12. water pool below spring, Fountain City Park west of Broadway at Hotel Avenue, Knoxville TN. The water there is full shade and spring feed pond. (McFarland, 2013)

The type of plants added to the micro aquarium are pictured below with tag cards of what they are and where they were collected. (Botany Lab Fall, 2013)

                                          Fig. 1 Utricularia gibba L.

                                                  
                                                    Fig. 2 Fontinalis sp.

                                                   Fig. 3 Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg

Below is a picture of my micro aquarium with the added plants, soil, and water.

                                                   Fig. 4 Completed Micro Aquarium

In the micro aquarium some micro organisms were observed but none were identified.

References:
Botany Lab at UTK. October 15, 2013.
Figures 1-4 from my(Andrea D. Finley) iPhone. 
McFarland, Kenneth [Internet] Botany 111 Fall 2013. [cited 10/20/13]. Available from http://botany1112013.blogspot.com/ In text citation. (McFarland, 2013)