November 5, 2009

Initial Observations: When I first grabbed my micro-aquarium I noticed with my eye that the algae looked a little browner than my last observation. Under the observation microscope I finalized my thoughts when I noticed that some strands of the algae were brown while others were still green and healthy. They were in no strict order of part of the algae. Some were near the top and some near the bottom. Next, I concentrated on the food pellet. It was very much shrunk and near the bottom of the aquarium. The movement around the aquarium seemed lesser even from last time I observed the organisms.

I observed four types of organisms this time. I focused on these four during my whole observations. Again I looked at the annelida. The three other organisms I observed were new to me and I did not notice them during my earlier observations. One looked like a minature oyster or clam mixed with a rollie-pollie. It had two long antennae in the front of its body. Off of the two antennae were little hairs or strands of antennae( I'm guessing for increased feeling). The legs were protected under its body. I think I counted either six or eight legs. Its shell was shaped like a rollie-pollie;opening at the bottom. Yet, its opening was shaped like that of a clam. It was interesting to observe because it climbed on the algae the whole ten minutes I observed it. Its movements weren't quick but it never seemed to stop moving. It was always exploring and I think eating. It would scrape up I think particles on the stalk of the algae stem and push it near the mouth with its fore-legs. Another organism I observed I believe was a type of algae. It was circular with little dot shapes in its interior. All along the outside were long spikes(about twice the size of the circle). There were about thirty or so spikes and I thought that when a motile organism moved near it or touched the spikes that they would die or get stuck, but after waiting, not organism came near it. It did not move at all. The last new organism I observed was a annelida. I could tell by the way it moved(earthworm type movements). It looked alot like the Aeolosome Leidyi with the red spots inside it. Yet, I could see the insides of the organism because it had a transparent body. The red spots were surrounding the "guts." All along the outside of the body were flagella that moved. I observed them move and noticed that particles around this organism were pushed far away from the flagella. It must have been strong flagella. Yet, the difference in this annelida and the first one I observed was this one had a long spikey snout. Much like a swordfish, it protruded far out of the head.

Overall, this observation was very interesting because I saw three new organisms and it ceases to awe me when I see these things interact with others and I can observe them doing their thing. I look forward to seeing new organisms during my next lab.

October29, 2009 observations

This week in lab my initial observations were as followed: the water was clearer than last week, probably because of the time of a week for it to all settle down. The food pellet (beta fish food) has shrunk, so I think it has been eaten. Also, it has sunk to the bottom of the micro-aquarium where all the sediment is. My algae plants looked the same and were still as green as last week.

Under the observation microscope I noticed a little less movement of organisms around the aquarium. There seemed to be less diversity also. My hypothesis is that many of the organisms died and/or were eaten.

And under the microscope I noticed and tried to label all the organisms I saw. First of all, I saw and researched an annelida specifically known as Aeolosome leidyi. It was a long, slender annelida which moved like a average earthworm would move. It would bunch up, then spread out to move around. It was transparent and I could see many little, red dots inside of it;mainly on the edges of it. It had a round head and long cilia along the length of its body to aid in movement and I could see debris being moved by the cilia as it moved. Pretty cool because I had no idea that occured in the little few drops of water. I also noticed colonial algae floating around. Another organism that I encountered was the chilomonas. They have oval shaped bodies covered entirely with cilia. They are slow movers and kind of float around with no apparent rhyme or reason as I noticed. Also, I noticed the didinium, which were very fast movers. They moved with their tails and somehow reminded me of the horseshoe crab. They have the same looking tail configuration I think and same body shape. They were a little bigger than the chilomonas, yet both were smaller than the Aeololsome leidyi. I saw alot less diversity in my aquarium, yet I saw in detail the organisms that did thrive in my mirco-aquarium and I look forward to seeing them live and interact in the future

october 20, 2009 micro-aquarium first observations

Today I set up and did my first observations of the micro-aquariums. I enjoyed seeing all of the little organisms and just watching what they do: what their movements look like, where they go, if they even got stuck in the sediment at the bottom of the aquarium. I did not notice organisms animals eating other animals, yet I did see a few animals "eating" food. For instance, there was one with almost a heart shaped head cut in half.It had a long slender body that was definitely a annelida because of it's body movements.It siphoned in alot of water and pushed most of it back out. It was trying to get food sucked in with the water. It looked real neat and I could see many little algae particles get caught in its current out in front of its head. Then the algae particles would get pushed right back out through where gills would be on a fish.

I also noticed that when organisms of various sizes bumped into eachother they merely kept going, not even pretending to notice the other organism or react harshly. I thought the bigger ones would eat or chase the small ones, but to my surprise they both just kept on swimming the way they were as if nothing had happened.

october 20, 2009 micro-aquarium set up

October 20, 2009 micro-aquarium set up

Today I started my Micro-Aquarium. Dr. McFarland took me and another guy out to the greenhouse to collect our samples. To start off our sources, we first went to a cold water tank and collected. Next, we got samples from a warm water tank and we also got our first piece of algae from this tank. We then went to a cold water aquarium and got samples. After that, we went outside of the greenhouse and collected rainwater samples that filled a pot; both were cold water. We also ate cranberries that Dr. McFarland gave us. Then we went over to the other side of the greenhouse(still outside) and collected water from one more cold water tank.

Once back in the lab, I placed the other piece of algae that all the other students had in their aquariums in mine. I added a pellot of beta fish food. I suspended that also in the middle of the aquarium under the algae. One of my first observations under the observation microscope was that much of the sediment had settled to the bottom and I could see many different types of organisms moving around rapidly. I think it had to do a little with the heat of the bulb on the water and most of the organisms were used to a colder temperature. Either way, there were many different types of organisms present. I saw many different types of algae, annelids, and I think even didinium which were very small compared to most others.