Day 1, Wednesday October 17th

MiniAquarium with Amblestegium on the left and Utricularia gibba on the right

 

Today, we set up our MiniAquariums. My aquarium contains water collected from 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(McFarland 2012). The pond is home to a number of ducks and geese, who provide the pond with a healthy amount of nutrients. We put two plants in our aquariums to be observed. Plant A, Amblestegium sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/9/2011 (McFarland 2012). Plant B, Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN (McFarland 2012). Upon observation under a microscope, movement of small, single-celled organisms could be noted. One in particular I found is known as colpidium. Colpidium is anchored to a larger organism by means of a sort of fiber and has many other short fibers covering the outside of the organism. The fibers move and circulate cooperatively of one another to create a vortex in the water, bringing food and nutrients to the organism. Interesting stuff.



McFarland K. Found at http://botany1112012.blogspot.com/