11/7/12 MicroAquarium Observation 4

MicroAquarium Observation 4 - November 7, 2012

This week displayed the most activity I have encountered in regard to my MicroAquarium. As usual, my observations began with scanning throughout different levels of the Aquarium. Immediately upon beginning I encountered an organism I had never observed before, this organism could be identified as a euchlanis (Pennack 1989). Attached to this organism was a difflugia (Pennack 1989). The Euchlanis "rolled" around end over end very rapidly yet remained in the same vicinity. This multi-celled organism also had active antennae, I encountered around five of these throughout all layers. Once more, I encountered multiple actinosphaerium also in the upper layer of the MicroAquarium. Meandering through leaves I spotted a bowling-pin shaped single celled organism. This organism changed locations very quickly and hid behind leaves, I could not gather a proper identification on this organism.

Progressing, the second layer was also interesting this week. Many pinnularia were observed though many were also dead. Water gnats seems to be most abundant in the middle, also. I came across a large, glob-like organism slowly moving throughout the water. This organism was then identified as an amoeba, the first I have come across. This creature was slow-moving yet was not bothered by any other organisms within the MicroAquarium, as it was significantly larger. This amoeba was the only amoeba present.

Lastly, the bottom layer contained many organisms both new and old. Cyanobacteria were once again present. Also, the stentors I have encountered in the past weeks have progressively slowed and not become as active as they once were, the cilia are not spinning near as fast. As each week continues I notice more and more dead organisms collecting at the bottom of the MicroAquarium primarily in the sediment. An interesting find I had not yet encountered were fragilaria (Prescott 1978). This multi-celled organism was gold in color and remained stationary, there were about three of these organisms in the same vicinity.

Bibliography

• Pennack, R. Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States. 1st Edition. New York, New York, Wiley-Interscience Publishing. 656 pp.
• Prescott, G.W. 1978. How to Know Freshwater Algae. 2nd Edition. Dubuque, IA. W.C. Brown Publishing. 293 pp.