Bibliography all weeks

Anisonema [Internet]. [EOL] Encyclopedia of Life; cN/A [cited 2013 Nov 11]. Available from:http://eol.org/pages/11715/details

Covich A.P. Thorp J.H. 2009. Ecology and Classification of North American Invertebrates. 3rd edition, Academic Press. 1021 pgs.

Lembadion bullinum [Internet]. [EOL] Encyclopedia of Life; cN/A [cited 2013 Nov 11]. Available from: http://eol.org/data_objects/21072078

Patterson D.J. 1996. Free- Living Freshwater Protozoa: A color guide. Mason Publishing Ltd. 233 pgs.

Pennak RW. 2001. Freshwater Invertabrates of the United States. 4th ed. Wiley Publishing Company. 648 p. 

Weber C. 1971. A guide to the common diatoms at water pollution surveillance system stations. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Environmental Research Center, Analytical Quality Control Laboratory. 98 pgs.

Pictures taken by: Abby Stanley

Microaquarium observation week 4

In my microaquarium this week I found many interesting things. Among my findings was an amphora ovalis, which is a common type of freshwater diatom and is also known as alga. These organisms have two arched margins that create a center valve and this is mostly how they are identified. Diatoms are mostly unicellular, and produce their own food because they are a type of algae, essentially. Another form of algae I noticed was the chlorella. Chlorella is a single-celled green algae that contains pigments chlorophyll a and b. An interesting fact about this organism is it is edible and desired as a food source because of its high protein content. A picture of the chlorella is shown above. I also found many cyanobacteria linked together almost like a chain of small green cells. Cyanobacteria are usually found in colonies and are some of the oldest known fossils in the world (3.5 billion years old). The last organism I identified was a epalxis. Upon research of the epalxis I could not find much information on it at all, so I am guessing it is rare. It is an odontosome ciliate that usually can be found in putrid and contaminated waters. This organism is a freshwater protist that almost resembles a microscopic jelly-fish. It has characteristic cilia protruding from various spots on its body that move somatically. A picture of the epalxis can be shown above as well.

Microaquarium observation week 4

Bibliography for week 3 information

Anisonema [Internet]. [EOL] Encyclopedia of Life; cN/A [cited 2013 Nov 11]. Available from:http://eol.org/pages/11715/details

Lembadion bullinum [Internet]. [EOL] Encyclopedia of Life; cN/A [cited 2013 Nov 11]. Available from: http://eol.org/data_objects/21072078

Pennak RW. 2001. Freshwater Invertabrates of the United States. 4th ed. Wiley Publishing Company. 648 p. 

MicroAquarium observation week 3

Things were relatively quiet in my micro-aquarium this week. Although I did identify a very large nematode that had a long worm-like body structure, which would make sense considering their alternate name is 'roundworms'. Nematodes are very diverse and there are many different types, a vast majority being parasitic. For the most part they feed on dead plant material, and have tubular digestive systems with opening at each end of their bodies. Nematodes have 2 sharp "stylets" that pierce their prey and direct the food into their esophagus. I am continuing to see many rotifers throughout my aquarium. Rotifers are also called wheel animals because they move with wheel like appendiges. They are extremely common in freshwater environments and can only be seen under the highest magnifications of microscopes. Another organism found this week was a Lembadion (lembadion bullinum), a planktonic ciliate. Lembadion are usually oval shaped with a small cilia on the end, and large membranelles on the left side of the mouth. They have a prominent vacuole that takes up most of the body, and they feed on diatoms, flagellates, other ciliates, and green algae. Also identified in my aquarium, was an Anisonema. Anisonema are generally known for their heterodynamic flagella that are unequal lengths. They have definite movement patterns of gliding and then jerking backwards. They are oval shaped organisms with no indegestion apparatus.

Bibliography: 

Patterson D.J. 1996. Free- Living Freshwater Protozoa: A color guide. Mason Publishing Ltd. 233 pgs.

Covich A.P. Thorp J.H. 2009. Ecology and Classification of North American Invertebrates. 3rd edition, Academic Press.

Picture: Taken by Abby Stanley

Microaquarium observation week 2

This week I used the high powered microscope to observe my aquarium, and found many larger organisms that way. The vorticella mentioned last week can be shown below.

  

I also identified an interesting almost star shaped ameoba which looked very different from any of the other organisms in the aquarium. Ameobas are protists with extensions protruding from the glob-like body called pseudopodia. These extensions detach from the bodies and float around and explore until they eventually return and reattach. The largest organism I have found so far was an insect larvae that resembled a giant worm that had smaller tentacles coming out of the end of its body. This organism is called palpomyia, a biting midge, that is poorly known because it is difficult to associate adults with their larvae that look nothing like them. Most larvae are carnivores and feed on smaller insects but have been known to bite people and become blood-sucking pests, these are called ceratopogonidae. 

Bibliography: 

Patterson D.J. 1996. Free- Living Freshwater Protozoa: A color guide. Mason Publishing Ltd. 233 pgs.

Covich A.P. Thorp J.H. 2009. Ecology and Classification of North American Invertebrates. 3rd edition, Academic Press.