Week Two MicroAquarium Observations

 During this week’s observation I saw a large decline in living organisms, though there was a noticeable difference in life surrounding dead organisms.  Around the three dead organisms there was a high concentration of smaller organisms, seemingly eating away at the decomposing bodies.  The larger multi-celled and dead organisms were identified as a Midge (Ward 1918).  This midge was being taken advantage of by dozens of what were identified as Bodos (Patterson 1992). This was all taking place in the lower part of the aquarium and can be seen in the video at the top of this blog posting. Algae were also growing on the mosses and appeared to be healthy, while the mosses were losing color and appearing less healthy than my last observation.  The main other form of life noticed were worm like organisms living within the mosses.  Habitats used were mainly the dirt at the bottom of the container and throughout the aquarium water mosses.  Overall, from the last observation less movement and life was observed, and the number of predominant organisms has gone down.  This left many dead organisms, three observed, floating about in no specifically populated area.  

Identified Organisms:

Midge

Bodos

Initial MicroAquarium viewing week 1

                    The microaquarium is a small aquarium made from plastic, they are very thin and the size is roughly eight cm by six cm by a third of a cm.  We began preparing our microaquariums by choosing one of twelve water sources.  From the one we chose, a sample of the dirt was placed at the bottom the aquarium. Then it was filled three fourths of the way with water from the same source.  From there three different water mosses were added.  Initially viewing the aquarium I was only able to see a small white multiple celled organism moving fast all around it.  Then when viewing it under a microscope I was able to see many more organisms, ranging from worm like creatures to organisms with rotors at the mouth.  Both were consuming parts of the mosses and moving around with moderate speed. The moving organisms were see-through, clear.  They were both living about half way up the mosses, slightly embedded in the plants.  On this initial viewing three organisms were seen.

                   The water source was number six and its information is a s follows: located Spring Creek off Woodson Dr. running through Dean's Woods Road frontage., Knox Co. Tennessee. Partial shade exposure. Tennessee River water Shed N35 55.274 W083 56.888 848 ft 10/13/2013 Fissidens fontanus moss in stream (McFarland, 2013).  

The pants within the aquarium are as folows: 

Amblestegium  varium (Hedwig) Lindberg. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. At Carters Mill park. Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/13/2013

Fontinalis sp. Moss. Collected from: Holston River along John Seveir Hwy under I-40 Bridge Partial shape exposure. Holston River water shed N36 00.527 W83 49.549. 10/13/2013

Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake(N35o55 122.35 W88o20 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. 10/13/2013