Week 2: MicroAquarium observations

• In my observations this week I saw an adult cyclops (copepods) and two nymph/juvenile cyclops organisms. The life cycle of these organisms is at least 4 weeks. These creatures moved around much but were relatively easy to follow with the microscope. I was able to identify these cyclops through the use of the textbook "Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States" by Douglas Grant Smith, page 490 where the book gives a detailed description of them. 
• Cyanobacteria has begun to colonize in the mid-region of the tank where there is open water. These cyanobacteria appear in thin, light green lines and are visible without the aid of a microscope; the microscope, however, is necessary to view the movement of this bacteria and the cells which form it. This cyanobacteria is probably of the oscillatoria variety, made known to be by Mr. McFarland. I also viewed a spirillum form of the cyanobacteria. 
• More algae has formed in the mud as well which is darker and more globular than what existed before. 
• The nematodes and ciliate viewed last week have not been seen this week. The nematodes will probably spend the hefty majority or their entire time in the mud at the bottom of the tank unseen.
• I viewed a tear-shaped organism with a single, extremely long flagellum aiding it in its movement. I also saw an organism which was circular with many cilia on it. The habitat preference for these creatures is in water where the new algae and the cyanobacteria is growing (near the middle of the tank).
• I observed an analid worm moving in the cyanobacteria and also observed an organism dividing in half which means it's an egg/embryo of some sort unknown presently. The organism could potentially be another cyclops. 
• My final observation included many diatoms, clear in color and oval shaped with a yellow inside. Mr. McFarland helped me identify these diatoms.