First Observation

First observation took place on October 24 at 10:00 am.

Whereas after initial setup, very few organisms were observed, at this observation there were many single-celled organisms as well as a number of nematodes and bacteria.

Someone associated with the lab had added a food pellet prior to this observation to encourage organisms to flourish in the tank. The pellet was reportedly added on October 21, 2011. Informatoin on this pellet follows:

Atison's Betta Food
made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas
3528 West 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84104

Ingredients:
Fish meal, wheat flour, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins, and preservatives

Analysis: Crude protein 36%, Crude fat 4.5%, Crude fiber 3.5%, Moisture 8%, Ash 15%

Tentatively classified single-celled organisms included the following:



Epalxis sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa





Tachysoma sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa






Chilodonella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa









Vorticella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa



Ciliates Feeding



Vorticella sp., keyed from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Protozoa

Working with Dr. McFarland to identify organisms was an interesting experience. At first, I could not see the features he pointed out, such as the indication of cilia / flagella and internal organs other than vacuoles, but over time I became more attuned to the suggestion of those things and what particular subtle movements inside the organisms might be.

The Vorticella was particularly interesting as the first one I saw was moving very quickly and the round apparatus at the top appeared to be spinning, reminding me of a helicopter blade. (This was described as a ciliate mouth by other students, which seems quite likely.) In the video taken later, Vorticella is no longer moving in this way.

Epalxis sp. was also a very quick-moving organism. The nematodes were variable in terms of movement, but at times exhibited an almost frantic thrashing and at those times were the fastest-moving organisms in the tank.

In terms of organism preference for particular areas, I noted that the nematodes appear to strongly prefer the soil layer at the bottom of the tank, and the ciliates featured in the other video had clearly found a food source that was localized and very attractive to them.

Other organisms identified included Bodo sp., also identified from D.J. Patterson's Free-Living Protozoa.