I did my fourth and final observation on Wednesday, November 16, at 10:00 a.m. Today, rather than taking pictures of specific organisms, I scanned the entire tank to see what the overall activity looked like and which organisms could be found in which areas.
This was definitely the most active of all of my observations, so perhaps my assumption that the population levels were dropping last time was incorrect.
I didn't see any nematodes, but there were several Chaetogaster sp. in the soil layer (which I'd previously observed and photographed). The bottom third of the tank was also covered heavily in cyanobacteria, which had always been present but now had become so populous that this area of the tank appeared very green when not under the microscope.
Moving up in the tank, there were many more Actinosphaerium sp. than I'd previously observed, including one that was in the process of dividing.
Other creatures that I saw in the middle area of the tank, which I'd previously observed and classified, were Childonella sp., a Vorticella sp. using its cilia very actively (though not moving quickly), and Epalxis sp. There were also huge numbers of organisms too tiny to see clearly or classify.
Still in the mid-tank region, around the plant Amblestegium sp., was a mass of Colpidium sp. in what appeared to be a breeding ground for that particular organism type.
There were very many diatoms in the top region of the tank. I also spotted a small number of Bursaria sp. and, at the very top, several Chlamydodon sp.
All of the above organisms had been previously observed and keyed. I also saw two organisms that I had not previously observed: Cyclidium sp. (who was living amongst the mass of Colpidium and was indeed being jostled around by them), and Entosiphon sp., both of which were keyed with the use of D.J. Patterson's Free-living Freshwater Protozoa. And additionally, there were other familiar organisms whose names I could not remember but had seen before.
Since this was the end of my experiment, and I'd become rather fond of the bizarre little microworld in my tank, I asked to set my organisms free in an environment where they might thrive rather than sending them to a supposed watery death at a water treatment plant. Dr. McFarland obligingly allowed me to empty my MicroAquarium™ into one of the greenhouse tanks. Live long and prosper, my single-celled friends.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Fourth Observation - Part A
My fourth observation has not yet taken place as I am a week behind the normal schedule. Check back for updates after Wednesday morning...
Third Observation
The third observation took place Wednesday, November 9, at 10:00 a.m. I observed the following organisms:
Actinosphaerium sp., identified from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Chaetogaster sp., identified from Kenneth G. Rainis and Bruce J. Russell's Guide to Microlife
Metopus sp., identified from John Lee's Illustrated Guide to the Protozoa
In the anterior image of Chaetogaster, its mouth opening can be observed.
I observed all of the organisms featured here in photos for ths first time in this third observation. I also got another look at several Euclenis sp. (but am not sure which book served as the identifier for this organisms), which had what appeared to be perhaps a double flagella that looked like a pointed tail. I had previously seen one of these appearing to scour the surface of the tank for food.
It seems that the diversity and sheer number of organisms have decreased at this point, but there are still a good number of organisms thriving.
Actinosphaerium sp., identified from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Chaetogaster sp., identified from Kenneth G. Rainis and Bruce J. Russell's Guide to Microlife
Metopus sp., identified from John Lee's Illustrated Guide to the Protozoa
In the anterior image of Chaetogaster, its mouth opening can be observed.
I observed all of the organisms featured here in photos for ths first time in this third observation. I also got another look at several Euclenis sp. (but am not sure which book served as the identifier for this organisms), which had what appeared to be perhaps a double flagella that looked like a pointed tail. I had previously seen one of these appearing to scour the surface of the tank for food.
It seems that the diversity and sheer number of organisms have decreased at this point, but there are still a good number of organisms thriving.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Second Observation
The second observation took place Wednesday, November 2, at 10:00 a.m.
Prior to this observation, I saw that two additional food pellets had been placed in the tank. The water level had gone down and one of the original pellets was now above the water level. Dr. McFarland noted concern at the addition of food pellets, which was evidently above the level he had planned for the experiment.
I observed the following organisms:
Phylum Nematoda, identified from Kenneth G. Rainis and Bruce J. Russell's Guide to Microlife
Other organisms included Euclenis sp., Bursaria sp., and Litonotus sp., all of which were identified from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa.
This was the only observation in which Bursaria (a small U-shaped organism) and Litonotus (which featured a long neck that it could stretch for a considerable distance) appeared. When I returned next week, I saw no more of these. At this time, there was still a substantial nematode population but this would also drop in the following week. There were no more of the very numerous small ciliates that had previously featured in a video, prompting me to question why. I did not see these organisms' bodies, and Dr. McFarland suggested they had probably served as food for other organisms.
Prior to this observation, I saw that two additional food pellets had been placed in the tank. The water level had gone down and one of the original pellets was now above the water level. Dr. McFarland noted concern at the addition of food pellets, which was evidently above the level he had planned for the experiment.
I observed the following organisms:
Phylum Nematoda, identified from Kenneth G. Rainis and Bruce J. Russell's Guide to Microlife
Other organisms included Euclenis sp., Bursaria sp., and Litonotus sp., all of which were identified from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa.
This was the only observation in which Bursaria (a small U-shaped organism) and Litonotus (which featured a long neck that it could stretch for a considerable distance) appeared. When I returned next week, I saw no more of these. At this time, there was still a substantial nematode population but this would also drop in the following week. There were no more of the very numerous small ciliates that had previously featured in a video, prompting me to question why. I did not see these organisms' bodies, and Dr. McFarland suggested they had probably served as food for other organisms.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
First Observation
First observation took place on October 24 at 10:00 am.
Whereas after initial setup, very few organisms were observed, at this observation there were many single-celled organisms as well as a number of nematodes and bacteria.
Someone associated with the lab had added a food pellet prior to this observation to encourage organisms to flourish in the tank. The pellet was reportedly added on October 21, 2011. Informatoin on this pellet follows:
Atison's Betta Food
made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas
3528 West 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Ingredients:
Fish meal, wheat flour, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins, and preservatives
Analysis: Crude protein 36%, Crude fat 4.5%, Crude fiber 3.5%, Moisture 8%, Ash 15%
Tentatively classified single-celled organisms included the following:
Epalxis sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Tachysoma sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Chilodonella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Vorticella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Ciliates Feeding
Vorticella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Protozoa
Working with Dr. McFarland to identify organisms was an interesting experience. At first, I could not see the features he pointed out, such as the indication of cilia / flagella and internal organs other than vacuoles, but over time I became more attuned to the suggestion of those things and what particular subtle movements inside the organisms might be.
The Vorticella was particularly interesting as the first one I saw was moving very quickly and the round apparatus at the top appeared to be spinning, reminding me of a helicopter blade. (This was described as a ciliate mouth by other students, which seems quite likely.) In the video taken later, Vorticella is no longer moving in this way.
Epalxis sp. was also a very quick-moving organism. The nematodes were variable in terms of movement, but at times exhibited an almost frantic thrashing and at those times were the fastest-moving organisms in the tank.
In terms of organism preference for particular areas, I noted that the nematodes appear to strongly prefer the soil layer at the bottom of the tank, and the ciliates featured in the other video had clearly found a food source that was localized and very attractive to them.
Other organisms identified included Bodo sp., also identified from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Protozoa.
Whereas after initial setup, very few organisms were observed, at this observation there were many single-celled organisms as well as a number of nematodes and bacteria.
Someone associated with the lab had added a food pellet prior to this observation to encourage organisms to flourish in the tank. The pellet was reportedly added on October 21, 2011. Informatoin on this pellet follows:
Atison's Betta Food
made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas
3528 West 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Ingredients:
Fish meal, wheat flour, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins, and preservatives
Analysis: Crude protein 36%, Crude fat 4.5%, Crude fiber 3.5%, Moisture 8%, Ash 15%
Tentatively classified single-celled organisms included the following:
Epalxis sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Tachysoma sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Chilodonella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Vorticella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa
Ciliates Feeding
Vorticella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Protozoa
Working with Dr. McFarland to identify organisms was an interesting experience. At first, I could not see the features he pointed out, such as the indication of cilia / flagella and internal organs other than vacuoles, but over time I became more attuned to the suggestion of those things and what particular subtle movements inside the organisms might be.
The Vorticella was particularly interesting as the first one I saw was moving very quickly and the round apparatus at the top appeared to be spinning, reminding me of a helicopter blade. (This was described as a ciliate mouth by other students, which seems quite likely.) In the video taken later, Vorticella is no longer moving in this way.
Epalxis sp. was also a very quick-moving organism. The nematodes were variable in terms of movement, but at times exhibited an almost frantic thrashing and at those times were the fastest-moving organisms in the tank.
In terms of organism preference for particular areas, I noted that the nematodes appear to strongly prefer the soil layer at the bottom of the tank, and the ciliates featured in the other video had clearly found a food source that was localized and very attractive to them.
Other organisms identified included Bodo sp., also identified from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Protozoa.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Initial Setup
The source of the water for my MicroAquarium™ experiment is as follows:
Carter Mill Park at spring source, Carter Mill Rd., Knox Co., TN Partial shade exposure N36 01.168 W83 42.832 940 ft 10/9/2011
I was curious about this source because of my interest in drinking water, having read that the "cleanest" sources are those that originate from spring water, additionally being "bottled at the source." So, I thought this was my chance to take a look at such a source.
Setup steps:
1. Obtained a MicroAquarium™. It included a glass tank, a stand holder and lid.
2. Using a pipette, extracted water from the source listed above.
a. Filled MicroAquarium™ tank about 1/3 full with water from the bottom of the container.
b. Filled tank to next 1/3 with water from the middle layer.
c. Filled tank to final 1/3 with water from the surface.
3. Added two plants to tank - Amblestegium sp. and Uticularia gibba L.
Additional information regarding the two plants:
Plant A . Amblestegium sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/9/2011
Plant B. Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous 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.
In the first observation just after setup, 10/12 at about 5:00pm, I observed quite a few stationary green objects in the water, but very few moving organisms - in fact only two as I scanned the whole MicroAquarium™. These were oval-shaped, single-celled organisms with a number of dots visible on the inside. They moved in a way that appeared quite anthropomorphic to me - in a manner that reminded me of a creature "sniffing" or nudging its way through the stationary green objects. Occasionally they would dart suddenly sideways. Dr. McFarland said he could see one of the dots inside the organism get darker just prior to the sideways dart, but I couldn't visibly verify this.
Carter Mill Park at spring source, Carter Mill Rd., Knox Co., TN Partial shade exposure N36 01.168 W83 42.832 940 ft 10/9/2011
I was curious about this source because of my interest in drinking water, having read that the "cleanest" sources are those that originate from spring water, additionally being "bottled at the source." So, I thought this was my chance to take a look at such a source.
Setup steps:
1. Obtained a MicroAquarium™. It included a glass tank, a stand holder and lid.
2. Using a pipette, extracted water from the source listed above.
a. Filled MicroAquarium™ tank about 1/3 full with water from the bottom of the container.
b. Filled tank to next 1/3 with water from the middle layer.
c. Filled tank to final 1/3 with water from the surface.
3. Added two plants to tank - Amblestegium sp. and Uticularia gibba L.
Additional information regarding the two plants:
Plant A . Amblestegium sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/9/2011
Plant B. Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous 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.
In the first observation just after setup, 10/12 at about 5:00pm, I observed quite a few stationary green objects in the water, but very few moving organisms - in fact only two as I scanned the whole MicroAquarium™. These were oval-shaped, single-celled organisms with a number of dots visible on the inside. They moved in a way that appeared quite anthropomorphic to me - in a manner that reminded me of a creature "sniffing" or nudging its way through the stationary green objects. Occasionally they would dart suddenly sideways. Dr. McFarland said he could see one of the dots inside the organism get darker just prior to the sideways dart, but I couldn't visibly verify this.
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