Week Three: Going South for the Winter

Most of the life in the MicroAquarium has migrated south toward the bottom sediment. There are a few bulbs on Plant B that are filled with active life. However, I cannot see through the shell to tell exactly what organisms are inside. Also, Plant B seems dirty, and, all throughout the slide, are growing nodules with many, thin protruding roots. There are still a lot of small protizoa and some tachysoma (as I've had before). I also see an increasing amount of filamentous colonies, both cyanobacteria Anabaena and some green algae (which is pictured up top). There was also an interesting looking cluster of diatoms that is pictured below.

Through the toils and troubles, there are many newly found micro-organisms. Around Plant B and toward the bottom are a few rotifers called Philodina (1). It's pretty cool seeing it pulsing, and, also, it creates a current and draws other organisms (bacteria, debris, etc.) toward it. Two Philodina are pictured on the left. Another rotifer that I found had a lot of thick cilia. It's called a Gastrotricha (2). After feeding on a clump of debris and hiding, I managed to snag a picture of it (right). I also found one Euglena, which was very distinct by its small body and long flagellum. It swims with its flagellum in the front, which was very surprising.



(1) Pennak, Robert. Fresh-Water Invertebrates of the United States. 3rd ed. Wiley-Interscience: New York. 1989. (pg. 172)

(2) Pennak (pg. 165)