MicroAquarium: Final Observation

This weeks observation was the final observation of my MicroAquarium. Dr. McFarland was able to identify a few more organisms that I did not see in previous observations. It was cool to see how far along my MicroAquarium came especially since the first observation. Each week I was able to find new organisms and then look them up and see their functions. Just like last weeks observation I was able to see previously identified organisms and I tried to name them myself, it was a good challenge.

The first thing Dr. McFarland identified was a plant structure called Spirogyra sp. Spyrogyra forms green 'clouds' of cottony growths, usually in quiet water. In the reproductive state the plants appear at the surface, forming cottany mats of the (pond scums) and become brown or dirty (Prescott, 1954, fig 147, p. 75).

Image: Spirogyra Sp.










The next organism Dr. McFarland identified as called Heterophrys sp. This centroheliozoan genus is distinguished by the presence of organic spicules around the body. The spicules only appear as an ill defined halo around the cell (Patterson, 1992, fig 404, p.173).

Heterophrys sp.














The next thing Dr. McFarland identified was called a Diatom sp. A Diatom is a kind of protist with chloroplasts and a siliceous lorica/wall (Patterson, 1992, fig 6, p.25).

Image: Diatom Sp.
















Another organism Dr. McFarland identified was Epilaxis sp. Epilaxis is flattened and has rigid cells, usually wedge shaped. The body may be drawn out into folds and/or spikes, with the somatic cilia reduced to few tufts, usually from putrid waters (Patterson, 1992,fig 311, p.141).

Image: Epilaxis Sp.
















The next organism Dr. McFarland identified was called Gastrotrich Sp. Most freshwater species are very small. Size range overlaps that of ciliates with which they can be confused because of the cilia and spines. They can be distinguished by the two adhesive structures at the posterior end of the cell and by the presence of a discrete pharynx, they usually glide not swim (Patterson, 1992, fig 16, p. 28)

Image: Gastrotrich Sp.













The next organism that Dr. McFarland identified was a freshwater jellyfish called Craspedacusta Sowerbyi Sp. This orgamism is decribed more in Robert W. Pennak's "Freshwater Invertebrates of the U.S. " (Pennak, 1952, fig 5A, P.116).

Image: Craspedacusta Sowerbyi Sp.