Day 9 - October 25, 2013

My MicroAquarium hasn't had any drastic changes since Day 1. It seems the large unidentified nematode that was pictured and videotaped in my previous post has gone missing, and is presumed deceased. Additionally, there is a slight change in the color and perceived health of the moss and carnivorous plant. All three species of plants appear to be slightly less vibrant in color and struggling with the conditions of the system.

I was able to observe using both the microscope with a camera in place of the eyepiece lenses, and the microscope with the normal eyepiece lenses this week and both offered a unique perspective on the MicroAquarium. The microscope with normal dual eyepiece lenses allowed me to see into the system with a degree of depth that was truly amazing. I could see things like the fruit of the carnivorous plant Utricularia gibba L. in three dimensions and with enough depth and clarity to understand their shape and structure much better than with the camera based microscope used to take the pictures. I didn't see as many organisms using the microscope with normal eyepiece lenses because the magnification wasn't as strong, but I was able to see the three dimensional layout of the MicroAquarium and specifically, how the branches and leaves of the three plant species were integrated.

This week there were a few previously unseen organisms in my MicroAquarium:

Picture 1. Euplotes sp. An ovaled shaped euplotes cell with cilia on it's outer membrane and various inner structures (Patterson, 1996, p. 124 Figure 259).

Picture 2. Cyclops sp. A young cyclops lacking in egg sacks and with underdeveloped outer structures (Pennak, 1953, p. 384 Figure 241). 

Picture 3. Cyclops sp. A side-profile view of a young cyclops eating on the leaves of Amblestegium varium (Hedwig) Lindberg (McFarland, 2013)(Pennak, 1953, p. 384 Figure 241). 

In general, there seemed to be more activity in my MicroAquarium this week when compared to a week ago. While the large nematode was missing, there was no shortage of small single celled organisms, and even a multicellular Cyclops sp., to replace him. As far as I could tell,there were many Euplotes sp., but only one  Cyclops sp. visible in the whole system. 

In addition to the pictured organisms, I was able to observe and identify a number of Epalxis sp. in my MicroAquarium this week (Pennak, 1953, p. 141 Figure 311). The organism can best be described as asymetrical, but generally circular in shape, and as possessing many cilia on most of it's outer membrane. The cilia appeared to assist in it's movement and in moving debris towards it for processing.