10/20/10 Weekly Observation

Today I observed my MicroAquarium and saw numerous organisms swimming around. Using 10x magnification, I scanned the entire aquarium. Like last week, majority of the organisms I saw were in or on the perimeter of the sediment at the bottom. I observed movement within the mud and, according to the identification posters in the lab room, is due to a Spirogyra: a protist with long, hairlike arms. There was more movement under the sediment, but the mud concealed what caused it. On the outskirts of the mud, invertebrate Cyclops (Acopepod) and Dugesia (Planaria) were observed, again with the aid of the organism posters in the classroom. Like last week, I observed small, quick moving organisms around plants (away from the mud, mostly). I found out that these are Rotifers. In addition, Dr. McFarland helped me identify Vorticella in the sediment, which were long and skinny with a cup-like extension on one end. Of all these organisms, the rotifers are most populous, and only a few of the others were observed. I wonder if the populations of the organisms will change in future weeks.