Observation #2 10/23/12

Below is an image of my MicroAquarium that I took before I started my second Observation using my LG Beacon phone.

My second observation occurred on October 23, 2012 at approximately 5 o clock p.m. with the assistance of Dr. McFarland in room 202 of the Hesler Biology Building on The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s campus. It lasted until about 6:15 p.m. The materials that were used during this observation were a CH30 Olympus microscope, a Sony Camera (HDR-HC9), and a Dell Computer. The Sony camera was hooked up to the microscope and was used to project the images through the Dell computer screen. A corresponding remote was also used to snap images of interesting organisms that I found throughout my observation. Moreover, the microscope contained an EA 4 lense, an EA 10 lense, and a very special lense which was an exclusive Nikon Japan lense (.55LWD). To observe I removed the stand and lid from the MircroAquarium tank. Then I carefully laid the tank on the microscope stage with the open end away from me. I first observed some little organisms that had cilia hair-like organelles which Dr. McFarland later told me were only ciliates. The ciliates were moving throughout the aquarium in no specific order. The next organism that I observed was an Actinosphaerium (Hedley and Patterson 1996).   It is a multinucleated heliozoon and is related to Actinophrys (Hedley and Patterson 1996). It appeared to be floating throughout. The final organism that I observed on that day was an Oscillatoria Splendida (Forest 1954). This organism had a photosynthetic bacterial sheath around it, according to Dr. McFarland. It was sticking out from the sample of the Amblestegium (from the moss collection) plant. Under the EA 4 lense of the microscope, the worm-like cyanobacteria photosynthetic organism appeared small. Moreover, with the EA 10 lense the worm appeared skinny and very long. Once I used the exclusive Japan lense I captured a good image of it because it projected the organism the greatest and produced the best image out all three lenses. To create or perfect the images below, Dr. McFarland showed me how to use Photoshop to crop and make the images appear much better.

Finally, at the end of my observation before I placed my MicroAquarium back in its appropriate section, Dr. McFarland instructed me to replace the water that may have been lost somehow, by adding more to it with the clear water bottle that he provided. Overall, I observed more organisms last time, but the two organisms that I did observe this time were very original and new to my eyes; although there was only one of each of the two organisms besides the ciliates this time.

 

Below is an image of the Actinosphaerium that I edited under the assistance of Dr. McFarland using Photoshop.

 

Below is an image of the Oscillatoria Splendida that I edited under the assistance of Dr. McFarland using Photoshop.

 

 

References:

Cook R, McFarland K. 2013. General Botany 111 Laboratory Manual. 14th ed, Knoxville (TN).155-157 p.

Citation: (Cook and McFarland 2013)

Forest H.1954. Handbook of Algae. The University of Tennessee Press. 387 p. Figure 13.

Citation: (Forest 1954)

Hedley S and Patterson D. 1996. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa “A Colour Guide”. Corringham Road, London: Manson Publishing. 169 p. Figure 394.

Citation: (Hedley and Patterson 1996)

 

Observation Date: October 16, 2012

Observation Date: October 16, 2012

I began setting up my MicroAquarium on October 16, 2012 with the assistance of Ms. Massana and Dr. McFarland. In setting up my MicroAquarium, my water source was from source 10 which was taken from a water pool below spring; Lynnhurst Cemetery (McFarland 2012). The cemetery is located off of Adair Drive (McFarland 2012). It is located in Knox Co; Knoxville, Tennessee (McFarland 2012). The water is exposed to partial shade (McFarland 2012). It is the Spring Feed Pond (N36 01.357 W83 55.731 958 ft.). The water was collected by Dr. McFarland on October 9, 2011 (McFarland 2012).

            Meanwhile to set up my MicroAquarium I first made the decision to choose source 10 as my water source. Then, I obtained a MicroAquarium which was basically a glass tank, a stand holder, and a lid (Cook and McFarland 2013). I color coordinated it with three dots respectively to represent my lab section which is 001 (green), my table 6 (orange),and my seat # which was 4. Next, I recorded my initials in order with one letter being placed on each of the three dots (KSM). Then, I gathered a pipet and extracted water from source 10. When gathering water, I first sucked up enough mud from the source then I gradually began to get water(from the closest to the mud to the surface of the water). I then placed a sample of the plant Amblestegium and a sample of the plant Utricularia gibba into my MicroAquarium. Amblestegium (from the moss collection) was collected from Natural spring at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN on October 9, 2011 by Dr. McFarland (McFarland 2012). It endured some partial shade exposure (McFarland 2012). Utricularia gibba is both a flowering and carnivorous plant it was also collected on October 9, 2011 by Dr. McFarland from south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co (McFarland 2012). However, since then it has been grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN (McFarland 2012).

            Once I set up my MicroAquarium I then took the initiative to examine it and its contents under a microscope. I used the 4x and 10x lens, but I began by using the 4x lens to get a good focus. I did not use the 40x lens because it would have caused my MicroAquarium to break. To observe I removed the stand and lid from the MircroAquarium tank. Then I carefully laid the tank on the microscope stage with the open end away from me. I was amazed that the water didn’t come out which Dr. McFarland explained was due to surface tension. Once under the microscope, I saw moving organisms more specifically a big brown beetle shaped insect and a really small circular insect that was floating throughout the top and middle of the aquarium. Another organism that I observed on October 16, 2012 had a heart-shaped back and 4 legs with 5 extensions from each leg and appeared to float throughout the top and middle of the aquarium. There was another organism at the very bottom that looked as if it were eating on the Amblestegium plant. I only seen one of each of the organisms that I described. I am looking forward to the next obeservations of my MicroAquarium.

References (CBE Style)

Cook R, McFarland K. 2013. General Botany 111 Laboratory Manual. 14th ed, Knoxville (TN).155-157 p.

Citation: (Cook and McFarland 2013)

McFarland K. Botany 111 Fall 2012. [Internet]. 2012. Available from : http://botany1112012.blogspot.com/

CItation: (McFarland 2012)