Creation

This week our lab section created aquariums with the purpose of finding interesting organisms within the water source (and the soil or sediment from the same location). For each individual, a micro-aquarium was obtained (this was two thick glass slides glued together by silica) and given a unique color code (for example, mine was orange-orange-orange). Then, we filled our acquaria with water and mud from one of thirteen sources. I chose to use Source 10, pooled water flowing from a spring at Lynnhurst Cemetery.

• Water pool below spring. Lynnhurst Cemetery off of Adair Drive. Knox Co. Knoxville TN. Partial shade exposure Spring Feed Pond N36 01.357 W83 55.731 958 ft 10/10/2010.

Next, each person inserted two plants into their acquarium; Plant A on the left side and Plant B on the right. These were as follows:

• Plant A . Fontinalis sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. Partial shade exposure. N36 01.168 W83 42.832. 10/10/2010
   
• Plant B. Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake (N 35o55 12.35" W088o20' 47.00), Camp Bella Air Rd. East of Sparta Tn. in White Co. and grown in water tanks outside of greenhouse at Hesler Biology Building. The University of Tennessee. Knox Co. Knoxville TN.

After this was complete, we viewed our acquaria under a microscope. I saw a lot of single-celled organisms--round and fast-moving without visible flagella--but nothing of real consequence except for a small, rotating organism. It was red at the center, had an odd shape with many protruding parts, and constantly rotated in exactly the same direction as it slowly moved.The instructor identified it as a rotifer. It was relaxing to the eye to watch.

The micro-acquarium each was placed in a base and sealed with a lid loosely glued on with sticky tack. Then all of them were stored and are to be viewed again weekly at each person's leisure.

Next week I'll see if anything has changed. I expect there to be more single-celled organisms because of reproduction; I also expect the carnivorous plant to have grown by feeding off of smaller organisms. I wonder if I'll be able to find my rotifer again.