Would like to thank Dr. Kenneth McFarland for making this experiment possible and helping me to identify the microorganisms.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Melosira - Part of the Chrysophyta or golden-brown algae, Chrysophyta are divided into two classes. Chrysophyceae and the Bacillariophyceae. Melosira falls into the class Bacillariophyceae which are diatoms. Commonly found in drinking water, can give the water a grassy or fishy odor. (Burglingame, 2002)
Oscillatoria - cyanobacteria, Filamentous organism without heterocysts, Able to convert nitrogen into ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites. Found in the bottom of the aquarium. (Palinska, 2007)
Reference:
Canter-Lund H, Lund J. Freshwater Algae – Their microscopic world explored. Bristol. Biopress Ltd. 1995. p. 141, Fig. 255 Melosira. p. 227, Fig.430 Oscillatora
<http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?
Palinska, Katarzyna, William Horgan, and Wolfgang Krumbein. "Cyanobacteria." Encyclopedia of Life Sciences: Supplementary Set. Vol. 22. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley, 2007. 199-206. 6 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Univ of Tennessee Library Serials Dept. 20 Nov. 2010
<http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?
Euplote - is flattened dorsoventrally and has a different ciliature on the two surfaces. Ventral surface- highly specialized ciliature for crawling. Dorsal surface- convex and ridged. directs food to a buccal cavity. (Euplotes, 2005)
Lecane rotifer - minute, bilaterally symmetrical, unsegmented. The tail looking part is called the corona, used for food gathering and movement. The head part has a set of jaws called trophi. This one is actually dead. (Wallace, 2005)
Paramecium - ciliated protozoa, bacteria eater. Has uniform cilia over the cell surface. Eats algae by a oral apparatus that is shaped like a funnel. (Aufderheide, 2005)
Reference:
Patterson D. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa- A Colour Guide. London. Manson Publishing. 1995. p. 124, Fig. 259 Euplote. Fig. 346-347 Paramecium
"Euplotes (Dorsoventrally-flattened Ciliates)." Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Vol. 6. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley, 2005. 642-648. 20 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Univ of Tennessee Library Serials Dept. 20 Nov. 2010
<http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?
Wallace, Robert. "Rotifera." Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Vol. 16. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley, 2005. 630-633. 20 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Univ of Tennessee Library Serials Dept. 20 Nov. 2010
<http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?
Aufderheide, Karl, and Christopher Janetopoulos. "Paramecium." Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Vol. 13. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley, 2005. 684-689. 20 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Univ of Tennessee Library Serials Dept. 20 Nov. 2010
<http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Week Four _ The Loss of a Life
Today was a sad day in the life of the MicroAquarium. First organism I found was a Lecane Rotifer. However this Rotifer was not active like others in his family. He was pronounced dead at the scene. I was able to identify him as a Lecane Rotifer. May he rest in peace. Also identified Paramecium, Oscillatoria, Melosira, and Euplotes. Pictures will be posted by next week. Along with descriptions of these different organisms that I have identified. Each week allows me to narrow down species of organisms. P.S. I think the Beta Food Pellet might have been poison to Arthour the Rotifer. More information to come...
Week Three
On Friday October 22, 2010 "ONE" Beta Food Pellet was inserted into each microaquarium. "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%.
The Microaquarium did not seem to change any from the Beta Food Pellet being added. Same organisms were seen swimming around. I found some stick like organisms growing in the mud bottom. I think it was a cyanobacteria. More information to follow.
Week Two
This week the MicroAquarium seems to be doing well. It has more bubbles throughout than the previous week. I found more organisms through out the aquarium. I identified many of the organisms to be Rotifers. The Rotifers appear to look kind of like water rats. This organism was the most abundant in the aquarium. I also found Euplotes swimming around. Pictures will show descriptions. All organisms found are moving quickly and are difficult to photograph. More information to come...
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Week 1 The Set Up
This week (October 13) I set up my MicroAquarium. The aquarium is made out of two slides with a silicone material holding them together to make it water tight. I added water and mud to the aquarium. My water was number four. Holston River along John Sevier Hwy under I 40 Bridge Partial shade exposure Holston River water Shed. I added the two plants provided, Plant A. Fontinalis sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. Plant B. Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake, Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building. Once the aquarium was set up I view it under the microscope. There was evidence of organisms around the plants and in the mud. I am not sure of the exact organism. More information to come...
Information for the water and plants found at -10/10/2010 McFarland,Dr. K. 2010. Botany Blog. <http://botany1112010.blogspot.com/>. Oct.2010
Information for the water and plants found at -10/10/2010 McFarland,Dr. K. 2010. Botany Blog. <http://botany1112010.blogspot.com/>. Oct.2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)