4th Observation

During my fourth observation, there were several rectangular, compartmental, yellowish brown diatoms as well as several rotifers dispersed throughout my microaquarium. I saw at least three rotifers that were no longer transparent and fat for they were filled with nutrients. Attached to the Utricularia gibba were multiple Vorticella, protozoa that attach to surroundings materials by means of a stalk and have a bell-shaped head with cilia surrounding open end, and collecting nutrients (Evans 2003). There also seemed to be a free swimming Vorticella towards the soil with its stalk coiled. I found two Actinophyrys, both stagnant, one next to the Utricularia gibba and the other close to the Fontinalis. Also, near the Utricularia gibba were two of the same unidentifiable organisms that had the rounded body with a hooked anterior lined with cilia like Colpidium, but the Colpidium did not have the large vacuole towards the posterior that these two organisms did (Patterson 1996). The picture above was determined as unknown by looking through multiple species and pictures (Patterson 1996).While the two organisms had the large posterior vacuole of Loxophyllum, they did not have the same slender body shape nor the external beads as the Loxophyllum (Patterson 1996). A picture of the unidentifiable organism is at the top of the page. Within the soil was a feeding annelid and then another annelid was seen completely outside of the soil moving to a new location before resettling in the soil again. Down towards the bottom of the microaquarium near the soil were hundreds of bacteria seeming to be feeding on dead matter.

Evans L. 2003 [cited 2010 Nov 4].Vorticella. [Internet]. US: Microbus. Available from: http://www.microscope-microscope.org/applications/pond-critters/protozoans/ciliphora/vorticella.htm.

Patterson D. 1996. Free- Living Freshwater Protozoa. London: Manson Publishing Ltd. Fig. 338.

Patterson D. 1996. Free- Living Freshwater Protozoa. London: Manson Publishing Ltd. Fig. 282.

Last Observation

            

There was definitely a noticeable decrease in the amount and diversity of microorganisms observed this last observation. The decrease has been gradual since the consumption of the beta food pellet. Throughout my microaquarium there were multiple rotifers, amoeba, and the rectangular segmented diatoms, but mostly such microorganisms were gathered in close proximity to the Utricularia gibba. The observations became more interesting towards the soil. As has been observed the past couple of weeks, there were thousands of bacteria, but unlike past weeks I came across some kind of “track” of an unknown organism, Mr. McFarland and I determined it matched neither an insect larvae or amoeba. Determined from the feathery-appendaged tracks, the organism was moving left. The picture to the left above shows the tracks.  Also towards the soil I ran across multiple Centropyxis, which are amoeba-related microorganisms that are a member of the genus Flugia and have a brown round body with a aperture near the anterior and a finger like appendage that is retractable (Patterson 1996). The Centropyxis is shown above in the picture to the right (Patterson 1996). Also towards the soil there were dead microorganisms, a Cosmarium desmid and rotifer being fed upon by bacteria.

Citation:

Patterson D. 1996. Free- Living Freshwater Protozoa. London: Manson Publishing Ltd. Fig. 184.