Bibliography

Bibliography

Fischer, G. 1996. Ciliates: Cells as Organisms. Berlin (Germany): Wilhelm Rock. 485 p.

Jahn, T, Bovee, E, and Jahn F. 1944. How to Know the Protozoa. Dubuque (IA): Wm. C. Brown                            Publisher. 734 p.

Patterson, DJ. 2003. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa: A Colour Guide. Barcelona (Spain): Wolfe                            Publishing LTD. 567 p.

Pennak, RW. 1989. Fresh Water Invertebrates of the United States. 3rd Edition. New York (NY): John              Wiley and Sons. 211 p.

Prescott, GW. 1951. Algae and  The Western Greater Lakes Area. Bloomfield Hills (MI): Cranbrook                     Press. 929 p.

Russel, BJ and Rainis, KG. 1996. Guide to Microlife. Danbury (CT): Grolier Publishing. 34 p.
Vinyard, WC. 1979. Diatoms of North America. New York (NY): Mad River Press. 120 p.

Week 2

Today, October 23, I spotted multiple organisms in my microaquarium. The first thing I noticed was a cyanobacteria. This cyanobacteria was large, star shaped, black in color, and made of a conglomerate of bacteria slightly spread apart (Fig. 1).

                                          Fig. 1 A gloeotrichia cyanobacterium.

 This organism turned out to be a gloeotrichia cyanabacterium (Prescott 1951). Near this gloeotrichia, I noticed a translucent blob moving around in a manner I would call aggressive floating facilitated by flagella. This organism, found around the middle of the aquarium, turned out to be a rodifer (Pennak 1989). The bottom of the tank held a very large diptera larva with a distinct head (Fig. 2), developing legs, and a tentacle-like tail (Fig. 3) (Rainis 1996).

                                          Fig. 2 This image shows the head and developing front                                                                                            leg of a young diptera larva.

                                          Fig. 3 This image shows the tail and developing feet of                                                                                             a diptera larva.

 The larva moved fast and sharply and wriggled around eating whatever it could. This organism is translucent under the microscope but is large enough to be seen with the naked eye. I noticed very few green photosynthetic organisms and my aquarium seemed slightly more dull overall.

My MicroAquarium: Week 1

This week, I set up my MicroAquarium. I used water and sediment from the spring at Carter Mill Park (source 3). After dropping water from the bottom, middle, and top sections of the sample tray, I added vegetation to my MicroAquarium. I added Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg. Moss. This moss was collected from the natural spring at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN on October 13, 2013. The source has partial shade exposure. I then added Fontinalis sp. Moss. This sample was collected from the Holston River along John Sevier Hwy under the I 40 Bridge. This sample was collected on October 13, 2013 and also had partial shade exposure. Finally, I added a sample of Utricularia gibba L.This flowering, carnivorous plant is originally from the south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta, Tennessee in White County and grown in water tanks outside of the greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building here at the University of Tennessee. This sample was also collected on October 13 of this year. In the small amount of time I spent looking at my MicroAquarium under the microscope, I spotted a few organisms. I first saw what I think was a rodifer on the hedwig moss. This organism was still with the exception of tiny cilia whipping around rapidly in a circular motion. I saw two large, 6-legged insect larvae on the Fontinalis moss and the Utricularia. These organisms had distinguishable heads, eyes, and antennae. If I'm not mistaken, they were eating the plants which they were located on. I also a large transparent worm-like organism that flailed its whole body in a very abrupt fashion. Only time will tell what shenanigans these critters might get into.