Second Observation

I found many new types of organisms in my second observation. I saw types of protozoa and crustacea which were seed shrimp and a cyclops. A seed shrimp is a tiny marine and freshwater crustacean that has a shrimplike body enclosed in a hinged bivalve shell. I had three of these seed shrimp, two of which were dead. What was interesting to see was that the dead sea shrimp had shed their shells which were sitting right next to their corpse. A cyclops is a crustacean with a single red eye that has two front short legs. The cyclops is one of the easiest organisms to find while researching pond specimens and can sometimes even be seen with the human eye. I had also identified halteria which is a common ciliate. I found traces of pond scum and blue-green algae throughout the entirety of my aquarium as well. I also found small clans of cyanobacteria located throughout the aquarium.
Next I found out the names of the two plants located in my aquarium. I have Plant A on the left and Plant B on the right. Plant A is Amblystegium varium Moss collected from a Natural spring at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. with partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/11/2009. Plant B is Utricularia vulgaris which is a carnivous plant from south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building at The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN. After making these identifications I took pictures of the organisms I found. On my way out of the lab I added 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%.) to the aquarium. I am excited to see what comes out of the food pellet installation.

First Observation

I decided to choose water source number three for my micro aquarium project which was from Carter Mill Park at spring source, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. Tennessee Partial shade exposure N36 01.168 W83 42.832 940 ft 10/11/2009. After filling the Aquarium with water and having created a layer of sediment at the bottom I added plant A on the left and Plant B on the right. After setting up this microaquarium I put it under the microscope. I scanned around the water near both plant sources to see if i could find any organisms. At first I could only see very small tear-drop like single celled organisms. These were either a clear-like color or a green color and would most likely be cyanobacteria. Along with these I was also able to find a very large organism living in the aquarium. The organism was believed to be a water mite. The water mite was in the process of feeding when I found it. I was able to see it eating and watch the food cycle through its body and digest, which was very interesting.