Initial Setup

Introduction: On October 12, 2010, I set up my MicroAquarium, which I will be observing over the course of the next four weeks. The objective of this project is to observe aquatic life forms on a micro scale (McFarland, 2010).

Procedure: The first step was to get a glass tank, a stand holder, and a lid (McFarland, 2010). The next step was to color code my aquarium according to section, table, and seat number (McFarland, 2010). I also wrote my initials (S.A.Y.) on the colored dots. Next, I chose a water source (listed below) and used a pipet to inject my aquarium with water and soil. The last thing I did was place two kinds of plants (Fontinalis and Utricularia gibba) in my aquarium. Fontinalis is common water moss and Utricularia gibba is bladderwort (McFarland, 2010).

Water Source: #3, Carter Mill Park at spring source.

Observations: I used a microscope to observe the organisms in my aquarium. The first thing I looked at was the soil, which appeared to be composed of small pieces of dead leaves, debris, and fine grained sand. Then I looked at the moss. It had pointed leaves, the vacuoles could be seen, and no visible organisms attached to it. The bladderwort was surrounded by many clear, round, free floating objects. These objects might have been either part of the plant or a type of organism; they convulsed sporadically. Every now and then I observed a small bean-shaped organism swimming around in the water. This organism was clear with some brown skeletal elements. It moved extremely fast.


Citations:

McFarland, Ken. An Inquiry into the Dynamic Microorganisms in Our Environment. Biology 111 2010, 4 Oct. 2010. Web. 17 Oct. 2010.

<http://botany1112010.blogspot.com/2010/10/inquiry-into-dynamic-microorganisms-in.html>.