Thanks

Would like to thank Dr. Kenneth McFarland for making this experiment possible and helping me to identify the microorganisms.

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

Burlingame, Gary. "Algal Blooms—Impact on Treatment, Taste, and Odor Problems." Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology. Vol. 1. New York: Wiley, 2002. 204-213. 6 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Univ of Tennessee Library Serials Dept. 20 Nov. 2010 
<http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do?&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX2847500032&source=gale&userGroupName=knox61277&version=1.0>.

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?&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX3026300160&source=gale&userGroupName=knox61277&version=1.0>.

 

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?&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX2846500796&source=gale&userGroupName=knox61277&version=1.0>.



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?&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX2846502113&source=gale&userGroupName=knox61277&version=1.0>.

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?&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX2846501726&source=gale&userGroupName=knox61277&version=1.0>.

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...