Vortecella video

11/10/2009

When I got to the lab today. I noticed my aquarium not having half of its water. This was much more than usual. I'm assuming that either someone knocked it over or the heat lamps were turned up a bit evaporating more water. The only organism that showed to have and increase instead of a decrease were the Rotefers. They were much more abundant than they were in previous weeks. The only organisms still present in any significant number were the Vorticella, the Amoebas, and the seed shrimp, though the Vorticella have become less colonized and in fewer number. The plants are becoming more of a yellow color due to the lack of chlorophyll consumed by the different micro organisms. The units were undoubtedly consumed by the microbes, as the organisms have been seen eating the plants and also having parts of the plant in them, as well as a by their increase in number. As a result, the plants appearance under a microscope are becoming much more clear and naked.

11/3/09

The larger nematodes are getting much larger while about 20 or so new ones are gathering mostly in the soil. The decaying corpse of organisms that the vorticella were have nearly been completely consumed. I assume that the vorticella played a key part in this. The Volvax glabator are larger and in greater abundance staying more toward the soil. The plant are becoming less green and the organisms aren't in as great abundance around them as they were. The seed shrimp are also multiplying in both number and size. In the bottom left corner of the tank I noticed an organism that appeared to have to rotor heads on it they were turning all the time. Dr. McFarland helped me identify this as a Philodina carotifer. This can be referenced to the chart Micro Invertebrates, Ward's Natural Science, 1998.

10/27/2009

The organisms were in greater abundance of all kinds. The larger paramecium were mostly staying around the soil in the bottom of the tank but were not limited there. There were a lot more of the same organisms but vary from very small to large. There also were what looked to be some dead Daphnia on the soil. Small long worklike organisms were wiggling around inside of a node of plant A. Vorticella were found in more abundance on both plants and dead organisms near the soil. I noticed a cyclops trying to dig it's way into the glue holding the tank together. I noticed a few seed shrimp and IDed another from a Fresh-living book, Diflugia Corona.

10/27/2009+

Origin

The water and soil in my aquarium were extracted from #11, the Fountain City Duck Pond. I place to plants in the aquarium. They are identified and have to origin location as follows : Plant B . Amblystegium varium (Hedw.) Lindb. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/11/2009Plant B. Utricularia vulgaris L. Flowering
Plant. A carnivous plant. Original material 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. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN.
This week I added 1 beta food pellet into my aquarium with the following origin and contents. ("Atison's Betta Food" is 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%

Oct. 20th

This time I tried to identify some of the organisms in my aquarium. There are some that I have possitively identified but others I've got that I haven't verified yet. Of the Cyclops I've got about 5 or so of them, of the Vorticella I've got multiple attached to the plants. The one's that I have not possitivelly IDed yet consist of about 10 Daphnia, some paramecium, euglena, anphipod, philodina, and hydra. I still have to confirm these but I will work on that for next time.