Lab Report

Michelle Brown

S. Furches

Biology 111, Section 005

25 November 2008

Term Project: MicroAquarium^TM Lab Report

Introduction:                        The world is an evolving ecosystem; organisms interact with one another and their physical surroundings. Due to the complexity, organisms are classified and grouped into different levels of classification. These classification levels can be reflected on evolutionary characteristics and morphological aspects of the living organisms. The process of classifying, describing, and naming organisms is formally known as taxonomy (Cook and McFarland 81). It is found to be a diverse procedure; therefore, it contains several steps. The first stage of classification is to determine what domain the living creature remains within. The domain, broadest classification category, consists of Eukaryotic, Bacteria, and Archaea. However, each domain can be further broken down into more specific groups. For example, the domain Eukaryote contains four different kingdoms, Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, and Protista (Raven, Evert, and Eichhorn). Within each kingdom a variety of organisms can be detected, some seen by the naked eye and others a microscope is needed (Cook and McFaland 81). Organisms are found throughout the entire world; some are found in extreme climates, while others surround our everyday lives. Therefore, this lab is created to observe mainly Prostista, Animalia, and Plantae during a specific time interval. A MicroAquarium^TM will be constructed including a local water source and two different plant specimens. This experiment will detect the Protista organisms that surround our everyday lives and how they evolve. Notes and pictures will be taken each week to reveal the changes in the newly created atmosphere.

Materials and Methods:            A glass mini-aquarium was obtained along with a lid and bottom. Three different circle stickers were then added to represent the lab section, location of lab table, and seat of each lab table. Then, on the three stickers the student’s initials were added to designate their specific aquarium. Afterwards, ¾ of the tank was filled with the student’s choice of water source; 1/3 of the tank was filled with the bottom portion of the source, the next 1/3 was taken from the middle, and the last third was extracted from the top layer of the water source. Also, sediments of the collected water source covered the floor of the aquarium. The aquarium was filled with pond specimen #4; it was located in Knox County at Horse Farm Pond. The water was partially visible to sunlight and partly in the shade. Two different types of plant specimen were then added to the newly created atmosphere. The two plants consisted of Amblystegium varium, a type of moss, which was gathered from a natural spring in Fountain City Park, and the Utricularia vulgaris, a carnivous flowering plant, which was collected from the greenhouse on White Ave. After the aquarium was created, a lid was placed on top and set in a plastic container. For the next month, food was added and observations were taken on the evolving ecosystem. In order to share the observations, blogs were created. Each week throughout the month posts were made and pictures were attached.

The blog’s information consisted of-            

Name: Michelle Brown

                                                        Display Name: brown82

Blog URL: http://botany-brown.blogspot.com/

Results and Observations:           

Weekly Observations

Discussion:            During the month of observations, an organism that was detected several times throughout the aquarium was the Rotifer. The organism is mainly found within freshwater environments and sometimes detected in seawater adaptations. The Rotifer is a multicellular organism, and the pictures above reveal the organism is completely see through. It contains random sudden movements from one direction to the next, making it hard to follow. In the MicroAquarium^TM, they were commonly detected within the Utricularia vulgaris. Scientifically, the Rotifer that was detetcted within the adaptation is known as the Euchlanis dilatata.

Classification Levels- Euchlanis dilatata

Domain: Eukaryote

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Rotifera

Class: Monogononta

Order: Ploima

The reproduction of a Rotifer can be either asexual or sexual. However, the majority of the time females reproduce asexually by cloning themselves and producing eggs. These eggs develop without fertilization. When the climate begins to change and the surroundings become drier, smaller eggs are produced. These smaller eggs are formed into male rotifers; they on the other hand have to be fertilized. When better moist conditions return, the male eggs will hatch (Rotifers).

Citations:

Cook, Rebecca, and Kenneth McFarland. General Botany 111 Laboratory Manual, 1995.

Raven, Peter, Ray F. Evert, and Susan E. Eichorn. Biology of Plants. 7^th ed.  New York: W.H. Freeman and Company Publishers, 2005.

Rotifers. Nature Navigator: A Guide to British Wildlife Names. Natural History Mueseum. 2004.

24. Nov. 2008. .

 

Week 4

Throughout all the observations, several Rotifers were detected throughout the MicroAquarium. Pictures above and below reveal only two of the many Rotifers that were observed. Both were located near a moss like plant, the Amblystegium varium. However, on the lower picture, a piece of the Utricularia is shown with it's filamentous chlorophyl structure.

To the right is a sample of one of the plants that were added to the aquarium. The Utricularia showed little but still noticeable growth throughout the observation. The picture shows the filamentous structure and the chlorophyll that is lined within the cell walls. Also, located in the upper left-hand corner is a bladder structure that belongs to the plant. This structure is capable of capturing small organisms such as Rotifers and Nematodes.

In the fourth week of observations, pictures were taken of the various organisms in the MicroAquarium. To the left, is a picture of one of the organisms, a nematode. He was located in the bottom part of the aquarium, within the soil of the water source. He slithered back and forth quickly and smoothly.

Week 3

Roughly three weeks into the final term project, the MicroAquarium has produced an abundant amount of organisms. Many Tachysoma, Rotifers, and Euplotes were detected throughout the aquarium. There was constant motion throughout the whole observation; some moved more then others. As the Rotifers rotated their cilia lined mouth, the Tachysoma and Euplotes wavered back and forth as they traveled through the aquarium. Also both plants revealed growth since the day it was created. The structure of the green algae appeared to be filamentous; also, there were several diatoms detected throughout the aquarium. In specific filamentous structured green algae, it appeared that some sort of reproduction had taken place. Different strands were connected with one another and the chlorophyll transferred from one cell to the next. The plants were becoming more prosperous and produced more color throughout the life style. More observations will continue to be made and future pictures will be taken.    

Week 2

Two weeks have passed since the MicroAquarium was created. A lot of changes have taken place in the newly created atmosphere, much more movement was present. Some of the organisms that were detected this week differed from the previous week. Instead of spotting the Cyclops, a Nematode was observed and taken note of; it was shaped much like a worm and spiraled from left to right. Also, an organism closely related to the Tachysoma, was the Euplotes. The cilia fibrils curved along it's side and down through the middle of the back. The shape of the Euplote was much more circular than the Tachysoma. When observing the aquarium, the amount of Tachysoma drastically increased and were found throughout the water. Also, two different types of Rotifers were detected throughout the aquarium. Some were found dead while others were newly born. With an increase of movement, the atmosphere appeared much more busy compared to last week. However, plants A & B showed little difference. More observations will continue to be taken within the next two weeks.  

Week 1

Approximately one week later, on Tuesday 10/21/08, many observations were taken note of in MicroAquarium. The aquarium consists of type 4 water source along with plants A & B. The type 4 water solution was gathered from a local horse pond located in Knox County. Sections of the pond were visible to sunlight, while others were exposed to shade. Also, the two types of plants that were added to the aquarium consist of Amblystegium varium, Plant A, which is a type of moss. This specimen was gathered from a natural spring located in Fountain City Park. Along with Plant A was Utricularia valgaris, Plant B, which is a carnivous plant collected from the White Ave. Biology greenhouse. These two plant sources were combined with the pond water to create a new evolving adaptation for future observations. After a week span, a variety of organisms were observed; some were more common then others. Plants A & B showed very little growth rate. However, the Utricularia was studied more in depth, due to it's unique bladder characteristics. The single-celled protist organism, Rotifer, was detected various times throughout the observation. It moved in an inch-worm like motion; periodically, it stopped and extended it's cilia lined mouth in order to engulf different particles. Also, another organism that was recovered was the Cyclops. However, when discovered, it was completely still, and there was no motion taking place. Another organism much like the Cyclops with little motion, was the Amoeba. The Amoeba was not noticed at first due to it's slow range of motion. The ectoplasm circulated throughout the unicellular organism, gradually moving from one side to another and extending the plasma membrane. Also, a Tachysoma was spotted during the time of observation. Fibrils were detected at superior and inferior locations of the organism. The unique organism was found and defined through "Free Living Freshwater Protoza," a colour guide. Unlike the Rotifer, there was only one Tachysoma, Cyclops, and Amoeba discovered. More observations will be detected and noted of in the future.

Beginning-First Observations

This past Tuesday on 10/14, a MicroAquarium was assembled in order to observe organisms and their life style. As time progresses, notes and observations will be taken weekly on the newly created atmosphere. My aquarium consisted of type 4 water source; also, plants A & B were added. When the MicroAquarium was placed under the light microscope, two organisms were spotted. One was shaped in the form of a worm and had two antennas; it swiveled from side to side when it moved. Another organism that was observed was a single-celled organism that contained a bladder in the middle. Further in depth observations will be taken this week.