Week #2 MicroAquarium™ observation.

Water source: The water I chose for my MicroAquarium™ was drawn from the Holston River along John Sevier Hwy under I 40 Bridge Partial shade exposure Holston River water Shed N36 00.527 W83 49.549 823 ft 10/9/2011. (McFarland, 2012)

This week in lab, we surveyed our MicroAquarium™ under a microscope to see what changes had taken place in the aquarium over the course of the week. We searched for different organisms and recorded our finds. After we were done, we filled the MicroAquarium™ with a small amount of water to replace what had evaporated.

Observations:

Fig.1  Limnias sp. (Pennak, 1989 )

(This organism was first viewed on Oct. 24, 2012)

The above photo depicts a Rotifer of the species Linmias. A rotifer is a kind of metazoan, and is known for having moving clusters of cilia in the mouth area. This particular rotifer is stationary, it is attached to a leaf and uses the tube like structure you can see here as a sort of home for protection. This structure is called a corona. This organism has no digestive system; instead there are cells present in the stomach that break down organic molecules. (Pennak 1989).

When I tapped on the glass of the aquarium, the rotifer went into shock mode and shrunk back into its shelter as seen in the figure below. 
 

Fig.2  Limnias sp. (Pennak, 1989 )

After a while the rotifer will re-emerge and the cilia will start turning again. (The figure below shows the same specimen from a different angle.) 

Fig.3  Limnias sp. (Pennak, 1989 )

Although it may be hard to see, the figure below shows another organism found in my aquarium of the Vorticella species. It is a eukaryotic organism and is from the protozoa genus and is stationary. It is attached to the leaf by a long stalk that contracts, affording the organism some protection. (Pennak, 1989).

Fig.4  Limnias sp. (Pennak, 1989 )

(This organism was first viewed on Oct. 24, 2012)

The third species I found during my observations is of the euplote species. Euplotes are a type of transparent ciliate and are eukaryotic organisms. (Pennak, 1989). 

Fig.5  Limnias sp. (Pennak, 1989 )

(This organism was first viewed on Oct. 24, 2012)

Bibliography:

1. McFarland K. 2012. Botany 111 Fall. [internet]. September 2012. Available from: http://botany1112012.blogspot.com/

2. Pennak, R. W. (1989). Fresh-water invertebrates of the united states : protozoa to mollusca. New York.