Day 2, Friday October 26, 2012

 

The Anisonema sp. observed. If you look closely, you can identify the two distinct flagella

 

The Cladoceran, Ostrocoda, and the Actinosphaerium

Today, I was able to observe my MicroAquarium under a microscope. A camera was attached to the microscope, enabling us to take pictures of the activities and organisms we observed. I was fortunate to experience a good amount of different organisms, including the Anisonema sp. shown in the top figure. Anisonema are flagellants with two flagella differing greatly in size and breadth. The smaller, anterior flagellum beats normally to propel the cell, while the longer, broader recurrent flagellum trails the cell and keeps it on track (Patterson 1996 page 54 figure 78 and Pennak. In the picture on the bottom, you can see a very interesting phenomenon occuring. We have a Cladoceran, or water flea, and an Ostrocoda, a shrimp-type organism, both caught in the arms, or axopodia, of an Actinosphaerium (Patterson 1996 page 169 figure 395). Also, one Beta Fish Food Pellet was added to the MiniAquarium on Friday, October 26, 2012. "Atison's Betta Food" made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas, 3528 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. Ingredients: Fish meal, wheat flower, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins and preservatives. Analysis: Crude Protein 36%; Crude fat 4.5%; Crude Fiber 3.5%; Moisture 8% and Ash 15% (McFarland 2012). This addition will hopefully result in some very interesting observations. 


Patterson DJ. 1996. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa. (NY) John Wiley and Sons. 223 p.

Pennak RW. 1989. Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States. (NY) John Wiley and Sons. 628 p.