We set up our MicroAquariums this past Wednesday, October 12, 2011. A third of the aquarium was water from the bottom of the sample, including some dirt/mud. A third of our sample came from the middle layer, and the last third was surface water. We then made some initial observations.
Water source: Tommy Schumpert Pond, Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge, Kelly Lane, Knox County, Tennessee. Partial shade exposure. Sheet runoff around sink hole
Included plants:
Amblestegium sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox County, TN. Partial shade exposure.
Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake, Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building.
Initial observation:
On the first day of observation, I observed quite a bit of life in the MicroAquarium. I was able to spot three cyclops, a type of copepod, as identified by the Pond Life Identification Kit (http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/small.html). There were numerous small, one-celled organisms that I identified as paramecium ciliates, also with the help of the Pond Life Identification Kit. I also observed a multicellular organism of some type of worm, but was unable to identify it. It moved in a frantic, S-shaped pattern, similar to nematodes as described by the Pond Life Identification Kit, but had one major difference. The organism I observed was a linear strand of cells only one cell thick. Due to this feature, I was unable to identify the organism yet. If I can find the name of this organism, I will post it at a later date.
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