Observation Day 4 - 10/3/09

October 3, 2009:

The diatoms have taken over! That's right. These little protists are dominating my MicroAquarium™. Here are some images I took:

The shell-shaped, brownish yellow colored microorganisms were identified as Amphora ovalis from page 600 Figure A of The Diatoms by F.E. Round, R. M. Crawford, and D.G. Mann.

Image identified as a pennate diatom from "Diatoms" by Wim van Egmond at http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/diadr.html

The next budding creature in my aquarium was the green algae and cyanobacteria. The previous algae was there along with a few new algaes beginning to form. These new algaes will be identified later.

Image identified as Anabaena from "Bacteria" at http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/smal1.html

Image identified as Merismopedia Figure 371 in Fresh-Water Algae by G.W. Prescott

There are still several Gastrotrichs still alive, and I caught an image of one.

Image identified as Gastrotrich from diagram found here: http://www.micrographia.com/specbiol/gastrot/gastro/gast0100/ch629waw.htm

The nematodes are almost all gone. I could only find one, and it seemed to be in distress. In its place are a few new creatures. The first is Difflugia. It moves with tentacle-like appendages that stretch to pull it along. There are several of these now, and I caught a picture of it.

Large dark spot in top right identified as a Difflugia from Figure 186 in Free Living Freshwater Protozoa by D.J. Patterson

Another new microorganism is the Flatworm. It moves almost like an amoeba does, and it seems to inhabit the soil. Since he was hiding in the soil, I was unable to capture a picture.

One that I did get a picture of was Philodina. This has a mouth-like feature that crushes up the whole organisms that its spinning flagella (it is a rotifer, after all) suck in. Scary!

Image identified as Philodina from this site: http://www.micrographia.com/specbiol/rotife/homebdel/bdel01ph.htm

There was a Paramecium that I caught an image of as well. It has very distinct cilia around its body that it uses to move about.

The transparent, cilia-covered microorganism on the right side of the image was identified as Paramecium from Figure 346 of Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa by D.J. Patterson

The Cyclops are decreasing. I could only find one, but it seemed alive and well. The Actinosphaerium were plentiful, but did not seem to have increased in number. I have images of them both.

Identified as Actinosphaerium from "Sun Animalcules and Amoebas" by Wim van Egmond at this site: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/diadr.html

Identified as a Cyclops from "Microscopic freshwater CRUSTACEANS" by Wim van Egmond at this site: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/diadr.html

Also, I have images of the Vorticella and the ostracod, both of which have greatly decreased in numbers.

Identified as Vorticella from Figure 233 of Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa by D.J. Patterson

Identified as an ostracod from "Microscopic freshwater CRUSTACEANS" by Wim van Egmond at this site: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/diadr.html

As for the environment, the soil levels were further depleted. The food was dissolved completely by this point, and there was some dieback of both plant materials.

Until next week!