Observation 2

On Friday October 21, 2011 "ONE" Beta Food Pellet of "Atison's Beta Food"* was inserted into each micro-aquarium. When i began to observe i noticed quickly there were Euchlanis sp., A type of Rotifer feeding off the food pellet. (143 Pennak) There were lots of them coming and going from the feeding frenzy. They are by far the most abundant of the organisms in my micro aquarium. From my observations, there were only one two other species that had been observed near and or possibly feeding off the food pellet. One of the species observed was identified as an Ostracod sp. also known as a seed shrimp.(209 Rainis) However, this seems an unlikely food source as most ostracod sp. were eating off of plants or the bottom of the micro-aquarium. Many dead ostracod sp. can be found on the algae floor. Also, possibly 7 seed shrimps were found inside Utricularia gibba L. or PLANT B.Utricularia gibba L. allows species to enter but not exit. In this way it is able to trap species inside until they die. The plant then breaks them down for their nutrients. The other species observed possibly feeding off the food pellet was Cyclops sp. (204 Rainis) It was noted that a Cyclops sp. was either feeding or hiding in the mass of the food pellet that still exists there. Through close observation it was determined that it was most certainly feeding off the food pellet. There were numerous other Cyclops sp. rummaging around the micro-aquarium. After more searching, I was able to spot a juvenile Cyclops sp.. it was distinguished by its exact similarity to a Cyclops sp. minus the tail which hadn’t formed yet. There was also a distinguishable star shape on its back when viewed from the microscope. It was much smaller than its full grown version. With a little help, I was able to determine that one of the Cyclops sp. was a juvenile. I also spotted at least one that was full grown and had an egg sack. These discovery leads to excitement as it seems, if things go well, my micro aquarium will be chalk full of Cyclops sp. in the very near future. Also, Defflugia sp. was observed, as well as Vorticella sp. on the micro aquarium floor. (95-96, 113-114, Patterson) Last week I thought I was able to observe water fleas, however this week they seemed to be either carcasses on the aquarium floor or I was badly mistaken. As of November 1, 2011, they are nowhere to be found. This concludes Observation 2 of my micro-aquarium.


Works Cited

Patterson, David J. Free-living Freshwater Protozoa: a Colour Guide. New York: Wiley, 1996. 95+. Print.

Rainis, Kenneth G., and Bruce J. Russell. A Guide to Microlife. New York: Franklin Watts, 1996. 204-09. Print.

Smith, Douglas G., and Robert W. Pennak. Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States: Porifera to Crustacea. New York: Toronto, 2001. 143. Print.

*“Atison's Beta Food" made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas, 3528 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. Ingredients: Fish meal, wheat flower, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins and preservatives. Analysis: Crude Protein 36%; Crude fat 4.5%; Crude Fiber 3.5%; Moisture 8% and Ash 15%.