Week 5

Observations
The web of filaments continued to reign. The segmented cyanobacteria is lightly covering the lower portion of the  aquarium. There was a lack of seed shrimps, and I specifically observed a dead seed shrimp resting in Plant B. I captured the image below to illustrate not only the seed shrimp, but also the filamentous cyanobacteria:

Overall my MicroAquarium was relatively inactive. In addition to the cyanobacteria and the rare spottings of seed shrimps, I also observed a significant amount of water fleas, also known as daphnia. These water fleas were scattered along the top layer of the soil and both plants. I once again observed two cyclops. According to Ken McFarland, they were young. Both a water flea and one of the cyclops are pictured in the photo below:

Of the few remaining organisms, I luckily observed the annelid, a typical inhabitant of my aquarium. It was actively taking in particles, allowing me to see the particles' movement through its clear skin. There were also two active planerians. These organisms emit a bovine quality, but both planerians were actively weaving through the open water and the soil, often times coming into contact with one another.

The identification of each of these creatures was found using:

Thorp, James H. and Alan P. Conch, eds. 1991. Ecology and Classification of North American Invertebrates. Academic Press, Inc, San Diego, CA.

Week 4

Observations
My MicroAquarium has experienced significant changes since a week ago. As I have observed every Friday, this Friday (Nov. 5) there was some INTENSE plant growth. The lower portion of my aquarium appears to be encompassed by intricate netting. The thatched appearance covers the soil and the base of the plants. I immediately spotted two distinct seed shrimps, the organism with significant population last week, along with two annelids actively swimming in the open areas of the aquarium. I unfortunately spotted one inactive annelid stretched out along the soil. Everything near the dead worm seemed stagnant.

I observed eight to ten seed shrimps on the broad leafed plant (Plant B). The seed shrimps were active, frantically dissecting the plant. I also noticed that the whole aquarium has experienced a drastic increase in tiny creatures. These creatures are clear and move around freely--not in clusters bunched together. They swim in random patterns around the aquarium. I noted at least 20 of these organisms at the base of Plant B.

An exciting observation concerned a brief view of a single cyclops. The creature was near the soil and had two pairs of antennae at the head of its body. The cylcops can swim at a slow pace with the aid of the antennae, or slightly faster with "jerks" if they utilize their other appendages and the thorax (www.microscopy-uk.org.uk).

I also observed an interaction between one of the annelids and a seed shrimp. They didn't visibly dislike one another, but the seed shrimp was occupied breaking down the soil, so it may have been oblivious to the annelid's presence. And when the nondescript tiny organisms would unintentionally come near the larger organisms, it would immediately jerk away, as if sensing danger.

The thin leafed plant once again had sparse life, with a rare seed shrimp here and there. However, I did observe a very peculiar occurrence. There seemed to be a huge bubble structure resting in Plant A. Within the bubble there was a live annelid resting along the curved wall of the bubble. I spotted a total of four bubble structures, along with one more buried in the soil. But no other ones housed a visible living creature inside.

The strange observations of my MicroAquarium will be blamed on the Beta Pellet that was inserted recently. The pellet may have reacted oddly with the pond's organisms to produce the web of plant life along the bottom, and may have also caused the death of the large annelid. Next week's observations will definitely be interesting.