First Observation 10/21

Lots of activity in the my Fountain City Duck Pond sample number 11. Very large organisms eating and moving, some slow some very fast. As Identified thus far I have seen many what I assume are dead seed shrimp. Large worms, midge larva both very active. Many Rotifers and tons of Cyanobacteria surrounded by many little moving things yet to be identified they are moving rather fast hard to track. With the help of Dr. McFarland a Stylaria Annelida and Epistylis Cilia were both identified. The environment is a hostile one for sure. Definitely a survival of the fittest scenario. Video and pictures to come in the following weeks.   

Week 1 Intial set up.

First, as a class we read thought the term project guidelines in the lab manual. Dr. McFarland came in and briefly discussed the home page

( http://www.botany1112011.blogspot.com/ ), gave a description of each of the thirteen water samples we had to choose from, lead the class in assemblage of the micro aquarium, Instructed the class on proper water sample extraction methods as well as insertion techniques. I chose sample 11 The Fountain City Duck Pond. West of Broadway at Cedar Lane. Knox Co. Knoxville TN Full sun exposure. Spring Feed Pond N36 02.087 W83 55.967 963 ft.  Extracting from the bottom of the sample to insure I got plenty of ground cover I then inserted the liquid into my aquarium. Second extraction was from the middle of the sample and then put in the micro aquarium. A third extraction from the top layer of the duck pond sample was squeezed into the aquarium. Using tweezers and a needle point I inserted two pieces of plant material. the 1st Amblestegium sp. Moss. Collection from: Natural spring. at Carters Mill Park, Carter Mill Road, Knox Co. TN. (partial shade). The second was Utricularia gibba L. Flowering plant. A carnivous plant. Original material from south shore of Spain Lake. After observing under the microscope for a few minutes I sealed my micro aquarium with putty and a lid and placed it in the lab tray next door.