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.