Observation #3 November 10th

To follow up on this whole nematode issue, I spotted it this time. But it couldnt bury itself fast enough, I lost it and couldn't find it again. I was uncessfully able to document this nematode with a picture. In this observation the amount of life was still very low. I believe it could have had something to do with adding tap water to the microaquarium rather than more of water directly from my source. This time I found a thread like piece of debri, it was blue and could have very well been a piece of thread. I noticed a bunch of thin, rope like structures, which were rhizoids on moss. I found eplaxis, and an Oscillatoria (pg 187 Prescott). Also i discovered a Bodo (pg 46 Thorp&Covich) along with an Amoeba (pg48 Thorp&Covich). Another thing that could have effected the amount of life in my aquarium is the small amount of soil in mine compared to others. Below I have added pictures and videos.

Observation #2 November 8th

Due to my work schedule it had been a week or so since I had las observed my microaquarium. Last time I had found a nematode and was not able to get a good photo of it. This time I scanned the soil multiple times and could not find the nematode. I was disappointed. However I did come across an organism called the The Centrohelid Heleozoa which is under the genus Heterophyrus. During this observation I noticed my percentage of life had decreased since the first observation and setup. It is upsetting to not see as much activity as others, but I suppose this is all part of the experiment. Below I've attached a picture of the Heterophyrus.

First Observation

On Tuesday October 25, 2011 I observed my microaquarium for the first time since setting it up. A Beta Food Pellet was added to my aqaurium. The food pellet came from a company called "Ocean Nutrition." While looking I found a nematode. I tried to take a couple pictures but it was to busy feeding and tangled up in the dirt I couldnt get a good shot. I learned about nematodes for close to two weeks in my EPP 313 class; Dr. Bernard from the Ag Campus taught that portion. So it was cool to see what he had been talking about up close. A nematode is worm like but not a worm, Dr. Bernard would be very upset if you made the mistake of intertwining the two. A nematode uses its stylum to feed, it almost looks like a sewing machine needle going up and down up and down. Second thing I saw was a Vorticella (fig 232 pg 113 D.J. Patterson 1998) . I have attached two photos of them. One was attached to some debri.

Mini Project Day 1

This week we set up our mini aquariums for lab. In my aquarium I put water from Dean's Woods Spring Creek. That is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. We also put two plants inside. The first plant was Amblestegium sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. and the second plant was 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.. We made sure to include a little dirt/mud as well. Looking through the microscope at my mini aquarium I was unable to see any micro-organisms. It was only day one so I am anxious to see what will be there this week. Thats all for now.