As I was looking through the microscope, I observed that there seemed to be more activity in the middle area of the MicroAquarium where the plant material is located and on the bottom layer where the soil is positioned. Around the plant material, I saw many large animal-like organisms ingesting the leaves of the Amblestegium sp. moss. Upon further observation, I noticed that they were the same rotifers I saw from last week, yet they had dramatically multiplied in numbers. With the help of Dr. McFarland and the 4th edition of Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States: Porifera to Crustacea, I was able to confirm that the organisms I was observing were indeed rotifers, Euchlanis sp. (Figure 1). These rotifers have tail-like structures and a large mouth for consuming organic matter (Smith 2001). More Vorticella sp. were also thriving in my MicroAquarium this week; around 20 organisms were present. While continuing to scan my aquarium, I made an amazing discovery. Along the edges of my aquarium, I saw a green sphere with spike-like filaments protruding from it. According to Guide to Microlife, these creatures were Actinosphaerium sp. (Figure 2). One of the Actinosphaerium sp. I saw was actually ingesting some foreign material using one of its large vacuoles, according to Dr. McFarland (Figure 3).
Figure 1 (Corresponds to figure 7.2 on page 131 in the 4th edition of Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States: Porifera to Crustacaea) |
Figure 2 (Corresponds to Image 21 on page 82 in Guide to Microlife) |
Figure 3 (Corresponds to Image 21 on page 82 in Guide to Microlife) |
Figure 4 (Corresponds to Figure 259 on page 124 in Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa) |
Figure 5 (Corresponds to Figure 319 on page 144 in Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa) |
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