Week 4

cyanobacteria 11-15-07

Thursday
November 15, 2007
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

The fourth and final week, the MicroAquarium(TM) continued to explode with life. The first thing that I noticed about the tank was that it was only about 3/4 full of water; so I filled it to the brim with distilled water that was provided for us.

A wide variety of cyanobacteria was everywhere in the tank, and was even visible as a smear across the back of the tank without the aid of a microscope. It was even growing into the glue at the sides of the tank. There were also what appeared to be a few colonies of green algae.

The population of diatoms had grown at the same rate as the cyanobacteria. There was also an increase in variety. I observed several different kinds in the process of cell division. Another thing that I noticed was that they were generally larger in size this week than they were last week.

The Paramecium bursaria population did not grow as much as it had the previous week, but it seemed like there were more in the tank all the same. There were also quite a few euplotes and rotifers. There were also many nematodes, and one particularly large one that could be seen without the microscope. I also observed several annelids and a flatworm at the bottom of the tank, but no Annelid aeolosomasp this time. Sad to say, the seed shrimp was found dead at the bottom of the tank.

After making my observations, Dr. Kenneth McFarland helped me take some pictures of the organisms in my MicroAquarium(TM). I enjoyed studying the MicroAquarium(TM) and asked my instructor, Dr. McFarland, if I could keep mine; so I did.

cyanobacteria growing in side of MicroAquarium(TM) 11-15-07


diatoms 11-15-07



flatworm 11-15-07

Week 3

euplotes eating 11-15-07

Thursday
October 8, 2007
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

The third week, there were significantly more Paramecium bursaria in my MicroAquarium(TM). I also observed even more of them dividing than last week. There were also a few Paramecium aurelia, some nematodes, and one stentor. There was one seed shrimp that was visible without aid of a microscope darting around the MicroAquarium(TM). I observed it on the side of the MicroAquarium(TM) picking Paramecium bursaria out of the glue. There were also significantly more euplotes and quite a few rotifers. At the bottom of the tank there was an Annelid aeolosomasp that was also eating Paramecium bursaria.

The cyanobacteria was virtually all over the MicroAquarium(TM). One could observe almost any of the microorganisms eating it. The population of the diatoms seemed to explode as well. The Moss B and Wolffia were creating even more air bubbles, but this time it seemed like the diatoms were growing in or on them.

cyanobacteria or green algae 11-15-07


large diatom 11-15-07

Week 2

Paramecium bursaria 11-15-07

Tuesday
October 30, 2007
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

The second week of the microcosm experiment, the population of Paramecium bursaria in seemed to explode. They were in every area of the MicroAquarium(TM). I observed several dividing near each other. It was interesting that I did not see any Paramecium aurelia at all. I also did not see any stentors or pandorina. There were still nematodes, euplotes, and one seed shrimp that I noticed. There were also very few diatoms.

Around the Wolffia and Moss B, there were significantly more air bubbles. I checked every Wolffia trap, but did not notice any organisms trapped inside. There was also much more cyanobacteria.

After making my observations, Dr. Kenneth McFarland helped me take some pictures of the organisms in my MicroAquarium(TM).

Nematode 10-30-2007

Cyanobacteria 10-30-2007


diatoms 11-15-07