Week 2

Dr. McFarland added a food pellet to my tank. This has caused a major change in the environment. I had taken a look at my tank during week one to find it to be, what I thought, very active. However, after the addition of the food pellet the term "active" does not even begin to describe the changes. Before I even had a chance to focus the lens I could see brown specs swarming all over the place. Once I was in focus I could see that the population in the MicroAquariam had increased immensely. 

Last week the organisms seemed a bit lazy, now it's a circus. Taking pictures proved difficult. Many of the little organisms refused to stop and pose for pictures. I did find a very interesting worm in the tank that Dr. McFarland said was a 'Flat Worm." I will be spending more time during week 3 for research (this will be tomorrow). I keep spending all my time with my nose in the microscope rather than the books. Today, I will provide a few more pictures of the things I saw and I will come back to update the names of all of them. 

I have also found out the types of plants that I added to the aquarium; plant A is Fontinalis and plant B is Uticularia. Currently the microorganisms are seeming to enjoy both. Although, the Uricularia may be getting a bit more attention.

 

This is the Flatworm Dr. McFarland mentioned.

Stenestomum sp.

(Fresh-water Biology, 594)

Stenestomum sp.

(Ward, 594)

Euplote 

(Patterson, 124)

Dr. McFarland said this was an amoeba. It was one of the most awesome things I have ever seen. The little balls move inside of the gelatin layer almost as if they are waves passing over one another and this is how the entire unit moves. 

Amoeba

(Baldwin)

And these are the little things that swarmed all over the place. I took this during a feeding frenzy on one of the plants. I will give you more information about how the move and what they are very soon.

Colepse

(Hedley, 163)

Food Pellet Information:

 "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%.