Blog #2

Percy McReynolds

Kenneth McFarland

Botany 111 003

October 27, 2014

Blog #2


When I went to look at my aquarium this week, the change I saw was very noticeable. When I analyzed my aquarium for the first time, I noticed a few different organisms at the bottom of the aquarium where the sediment was placed near the two different types of plants. After my observations of these organisms, I was able to identify them as arthropods. I also saw many free roaming algae floating around towards the bottom of my aquarium. Since then, I found many different kinds of organisms living in my aquarium during my second examination.

The microscope I used during my second examination enabled me to use a camera and a computer monitor to analyze my aquarium while also taking pictures of any organisms I found. When I first started using the microscope I was a little confused of how its functions worked, but I quickly was able to figure it out and I used it to my advantage. I first started examining the top area of my aquarium, but I quickly found out that many of the organisms were not located there. When I found this out, I decided to move down to the bottom of the aquarium. I started at one end of the aquarium and slowly examined the sediment area and the area around the two different plants. When I did this I was able to find many different kinds of organisms.

The first organism I ran into was the organelle Cilia. I found it free roaming near the bottom of the aquarium near the two plants. The Cilia was using its many flagella to rapidly move the water and the sediment around to absorb food. My aquarium has a very simple food chain right now so the competition between organisms is higher than usually, which causes the Cilia to work  harder to adequate food to supply its membrane with food. I also found multiple Euclanis rotifers at the bottom of my aquarium moving in and out of the sediment and the different plants. The rotifer used its tail to move around the sediment as I watched it. As I researched more about rotifers, I found that they are very common in freshwater because the are free roaming and decompose organic soil matter (Robert 1989). I also researched and found that rotifers are very major food source in many freshwater organisms. Below is an image I took of the Euchlanis Rotifer while it was near the bottom of the sediment decomposing the organic matter. I noticed its tail was one of the most important parts of its body because its whole objective is to decompose matter constantly.

Sources:

Patterson, D.J. 1992. Free living Freshwater Protozoa: A colour Guide. Washington D.C.: Wolfe Publishing LTD. 259 p.

Prescott, G.W. 1954-1964. The Fresh Water Algae. Dubuque, Iowa. WM. C. Brown Company Publishers. 162 P.