Observation 5

Oocystic sp.
Information taken from: Handbook of Algae. Forest, Herman. The University of Tennessee Press. Knoxville, 1954.

Ulothrix sp.
Information taken from: Freshwater Algae: Their Microscopic World Explored. Lund, Hilda and Lund, John. Biopress Ltd. Bristol. 1995. pg. 66, fig. 103

This week in observation I discovered some more new organisms. One was a rotifer, or a micro invertebrate, specifically a philodina. This rotifer at first resembles a worm, but it's mouth contains a type of spinner that it uses to move longer distances at a fast pace. To move locally, it srunches it's body as a worm would. I first saw it in the left bottom corner in the soil deposit.

Along with the rotifer, I also found several new green algae. The first is called Oocystic sp. and is characterized by circular membrane sheath with several oval shaped cells clustered inside the membrane, with several other colonies in the surrounding area. It can also usually be found with cyanobacteria winding in between the colonies. The other green algae was called Ulothrix sp. and is rod shaped. The cells can be seen within the membrane. It is found with several other algae around it, include colony algae and other Ulothrix sp.

I also saw several Pseudopodia, mainly the common amoeba found in several area around the aquarium. More single celled organisms have also appeared, mostly in the areas around and in between the plant A and plant B. Scott, my cyclops was found moving through the soil deposit , coming into full view for only a few minutes.

Observation 4: More new life

Desmid.

Cyanobacteria: Calothrix Gracillis.

Cyanobacteria: Calothrix Gracillis.
Information taken from:
Wolle, Rev. Francis. Freashwater Algae of the United States. Bethelehem, Pa: The Comenius Press. 1887.

Tetraspora Lamelloss sp.
Information taken from:
Prescott, G.W. Algae of the Western Great Lakes. WM. C. Brown Company Pub. Debouise, Iowa. 1962. Fig. 6 page 670.

Diatom

Diatom

Cyclops, "Scott"
side view

During the observation of my microorganism aquarium I once again discovered new life. In addition to my cyclops, nematode, and single celled organisms, I also found a colony of cyanobacteria growing in the area between plants A and B, the colony situated closer to plant A. I believe my cyanobacteria to be calothrix gracillis. It consist of long stacked strands that taper into ends. It contains no outer sheath and is mainly frashwater. I also discovered multiple diatons in my aquarium both in oval and rectangular shapes. They ranged from greens to golden browns and were not motile.

Along with the diatoms, I also found a desmid in my aquarium located at the in the middle of the bottom area moving in a out of the soil. It was long, and oval shaped and consited maily of green colors with some patches of clear yellow. Among one of my more intersting finds was an organism called Tertasopra lamelloss Sp. This organism is round in shape with an outermembrane with cells grouped together in pairs towards the center of the oragnism. Flagella come from the middle of the organism to the outer membrane and then in to the environment, and appear on all sides of the organism. This organism was found towards the upper tight corner of the tank. Along with the tetraspora lamelloss sp., I also found a worm like creature called a Analid, but was unable to capture a photograph of it.

As for the tank itself, the water has become somewhat murky towards the bottom where the soil is located as well as around the plants set in the middle of the tank. The water also loos more congested towards the center of the aquarium due to the plants as well as the organisms that inhabit that area of the tank, such as my cyanobacteria. More water was added to the tank due to evaporation over the past weeks.