Getting Started
Before any observation could be made, the MicroAquarium needed to be set up. The first thing I did was obtain a MicroAquarium provided by my lab instructor. It contained a glass tank, a stand holder, and a lid. We then coded our aquariums so they wouldn't be confused with our classmates. My codes were as followed: the top had a blue dot, the middle was also a blue dot, and finally the last dot was orange. I then put my initials on the three dots. Scattered around the classroom were various types of water sources. My water source was water source number five - Meads Quarry, Island Home Ave (Macfarland, 2010). Using a pipet, I placed soil from the water source across the bottom of the glass tank. I then filled up the tank to the top of the orange dot. Once the water was inside, I placed Plant A - Fontinalis sp. Moss. and Plant B - Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant inside to add oxygen (Macfarland, 2010). Now it was time to observe.
Observations
The first organism I saw was green, fast-moving, and you could see through it. It was shaped like a bowling pin. It was the only one I observed. Hiding behind Plant A, were circular see-through organisms that had a tail. They were almost silver in color and moved at a normal rate. They weren't face moving, but they also weren't quick moving.
Sources
McFarland, Ken. An Inquiry into the Dynamic Microorganisms in Our Environment. Biology 111 2010, 4 Oct. 2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2010. <http://botany1112010.blogspot.com/2010/10/inquiry-into-dynamic-microorganisms-in.html>.
