Week 4: The End

Ah, life... bitter sweet - but it always comes to an end it would seem... and so it is for some of the denizens of our micro-world this week, as I notice several rotifer carcasses laying dormant in the thining soil deposits on the bottom of the aquarium.

Also noticing a lot more of them in the mid-large sizes - and many more small rotifers populating our ever-crowding habitat. But the time has come to close this chapter in their lives, and to (hopefully) set them free to roam in the real world somewhere (even if it may be the sewar, somehow I suspect they may enjoy that even more).

Goodbye, cruel world!

Week 3 Observations: Photographic Evidence and Species ID

    I was able to get access to the imaging microscopes this time and got some decent mug shots. I have also been able to narrow in on some id's, which are also provided. The id's are tentative however, my final identifications and descriptions will be poste in the next and final chapter next week.

The Common Amoeba (this one is probably Amoeba Proteus). Common, but hard to spot - these shots were taken at the greatest magnification I had access to (40x).

Another amoeba.

Rotifera Euchanis Deflexa - these were very active, motile creatures, very abundant in my aquarium, ranging in size from a few um to perhaps 300um.

 Actinopoda Actinispherium. This fellow just waits around for rotifers and other cretures to get caught in its sticky spines.

 Another shot of an Actinisphere... note the bubble structure forming on the outside - not sure what this does but will have a final report in my summary.

 This Rotifer is caught in the spines of the Actinisphere and appeared to be struggling to get free. I watched for some time hoping it would, but never saw the ultimate conclusion to this death struggle.

 Two smaller Rotifers, yet to be identified.

 Something strange clings to the end of this filament of plant life, which appears to be the ascus of some algae perhaps?

 Rising from the soil particles at the bottom of the aquarium  is a Cannelida Tubiflex.  Also called a Chaetogaster, reminds me of the Asteroid Beast from Star Wars.... I think I can see   the Millenium Falcon flying just out of frame!

 Another shot of this motile, worm-like beast as it prowled among the muck.

Another worm-like member of the Chaetogaster family, Styleria, identified in part by the snout like structure extending from the head.

 There can be no mistaking the symetrical structure of this Desmid... probably Pleurotaenium Ehrenbergii.

    Next week: Its a sad time in Micro Aquarium land as our series comes to an end next time. I'll compile a list of the creatures I have seen along with some final observations. See all of you wonderful fans then!

Week 2 Observations: More Creatures of the (not so) Deep...

On Oct. 26th, I was able to spend some more time among my friends in the amazing world of the micro aquarium (TM). I observed some very interesting new creatures this time... these now joining the list of creatures that I will attempt to classify and identify down to the genus (and hopefully species?) within the next few sessions. But for now, I shall continue some casual observations as I swim among these delightful little creatures.

Figure 1: Possible Micro-Annelid: Styleria?

This guy was pretty amazing... a 'large' (~100 um) worm-like fellow with distinct segments, each segment delineated by approx 8 hairlike feelers (extending in pairs at four points around the circumference of the body. I was able to observe close up as this fellow feasted upon whatever it was that he was feasting upon among the particles of soil, stopping to eat in an area and then moving along a bit and stopping again... what appears to be a sticky 'tongue' would pop out at regular intervals and dab the soil.

Figure 2: Algae-like mass of hyphae. Hydrodictyion?

 This caught my eye because of the segmented, hyphae-like appearance of the filaments. Will be interested to know what this was.

Figure 3: Diatom?

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 Striking because of its sharp corners and symmetrical appearance, my first guess is Diatom, but we'll see.

Figure 4: Stentor?

This was hard to catch and I observed at full magnification (40x) for several minutes. I was able to catch the motion of water as it apparently used suction to pull water/food into its funnel. My first guess is a Protozoa known as Stentor.

I am a bit behind on getting these posts up live, so the next one shall come sooner and will contain actual images from my observations on Nov. 2nd, when I was able to get some time on the imaging microscopes... neat stuff!