Week 1 10/18/11 and set up

SET UP

Two species of plants were inserted into the microaquarium: Amblestegium sp. Moss, and Ultricularia gibba L. Also, a small layer of mud and silt from the water source was injected into the bottom of this environment and samples of the lower, middle, and higher water levels were taken into the aquarium. Amblestegium sp. Moss is at Natural Spring at Carters Mill Rd. Knox Country TN Partial Shade experiment. N3601.168 W 83 42.832. Utricularia gibba is further noted in the following text. The water sample used for these observations came from the Fountain City Duck Pond. West of Broadway at Cedar Lane. Knox Co. Knoxville TN Full sun exposure. Spring Feed Pond N36 02.087 W83 55.967 963 ft 10/9/2011. Water levels were increased in the aquarium up to within 2 cm from the top, then the apparatus was placed in the stand and a cover was secured to the top with two dots of sticky dough.


The apical meristem of Ultricularia gibba under 40X magnification.  These aquatic plants, commonly known as the common bladderwort, are carnivorous. The plant uses attractive yellow petals to lure its prey into a lethal trap.They are commonly found on the South shore of Spain lake N35055 12.35" W088020' 47.00 on Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta TN White County, and they are also grown in water tanks in the outside greenhouse at the Haslam Business Building on the UTK campus Knox County Knoxville TN.

(USDA NRS 2011)

Smith 1950: Fig 132

Smith 1950: Fig 132

At the bottom of the microaquarium lies a small layer of mud and silt in which organisms take refuge. Among these organisms lies Cladophora sp., more commonly referred to as green alga. The preceding two pictures portray a single cell of Cladophora sp. The 10X magnification (top) shows a single cell of green alga protruding from the bottom layer of silt and mud, and the 40X magnification (bottom) gives a closer view of the cell. 

Of all the other organisms in the microaquarium, Nematoda is one of the smallest. Its tubular body shape allows this organism to contort and slither frantically in the water. While other organisms were viewed in multiplicity, only one Nematoda was spotted under 40X magnification.

                                     Pennak 1989: pg 228 Fig 1

Contrary to the tiny Nemotoda, the Ostrocoda (left) varies in size from small to one of the largest organisms in the micro aquarium environment. Also, the Ostracoda is quite populous with a count of over fifteen individuals and possibly multiple species within this aquatic environment. Ostracoda, a member of the class Crustacea, appears to use hair or spindle like structures, which protrude from both the front and back of the organism, as sensory and propeller appendages.

Smith 2001: fig 8.7

A specific species of Ostracoda, Ostracoda Cypridopsis sp., was identified. The obvious striped markings present on this organism (as seen through 40X top right) distinguishes it from other Ostracoda species.  As shown in the bottom right picture, Ostracoda Cypriopsis sp. also has spindle like structures protruding from its front, tho not any (of an obvious nature) from the back.

(Russell, Rainis 1996)