MicroAquariumTM Set Up

Wednesday October 13, 2010 I set up my MicroAquarium.  A MicroAquarium is made of two rectangular pieces of glass approximately 5 cm X 8 cm fastened together parallel to each other with watertight adhesive on three sides so the space between is about 3 mm creating a small aquarium.  Through the fourth side, the open side, water containing microorganisms is injected.  When the MicroAquarium is carefully laid on its side without tipping the end, surface tension keeps the water from spilling so it can be safely placed on the microscope stage to observe the microorganisms.

First I labeled my MicroAquarium to distinguish it from all the other lab participants' and secured a stand and cover to keep it safe and erect in the lab between the observations I will make at least once weekly.  Using a pipet I extracted water from a source provided in the lab, first pulling water from the bottom, including some soil, to fill the MicroAquarium one third, then equal portions from the top and middle of the source.  I also added two plants.

On the left side of the MicroAquarium I placed the plant:  Fontinalis 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. 10/10/2010.
And on the right side:  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.
My water source came from a Plastic Bird Bath pool.  0.9 mile from Fountain City Pond on Fountain Rd.  Knox Co.  Knoxville TN Partial shade exposure N 36o02.249' W083o55.999' 1121 ft 10/10/2010. (McFarland 2010)

After setting up the MicroAquarium I made some observations with the microscope.  I observed a few round organsims that had long cilia and were mostly motionless but would occasionally move explosively.  Other much smaller round organisms appeared to rotate and move around at a fairly rapid pace.  Cigar shaped organisms moved slowly through the water.  Another organism with a long flagellum and body shaped like a top was seen.  Also, I saw long thin green stationary organisms which appear to be one cell thick.  These had regular divisions across them, probably the cell walls.


Citations:
McFarland, Ken.  4 October 2010.  Botany 111 2010.  An inquiry into the dynamic microorganisms in our environment.  15 October 2010.  <http://botany1112010.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html>.