The MicroAquarium: Week Four

As usual, the Utricularia gibba seems to be growing ever denser and spreading. The worm-like creatures viewed upon the last obersvation I was able to identify as the genus Aeolosoma but the species was unable to be identified do to the lack of vision of the initial organism. Also, this image that I captured is demonstrating this organism's asexual reproduction by pinching off towards the middle of the organism to form another.

1. Aeolosoma species a. (Pennak, pg. 324).

In further inspection towards the bottom of the tank, I noticed the dead exoskeleton of the dead seed shrimp I had observed two weeks prior. Around the skeleton, I also noticed another worm-like creature that looked very similar to the creature observed around the gibba. Dissimilarly, this organism had more of a rounded head. I found that this organism also belonged to the genus Aeolosoma but the species was also unable to be identified for lack of visible detail.

2. Aeolosoma species b. (Pennak, pg. 324).

Many single celled organisms were also observed throughout the many weeks of observations, but I was able to identify one larger one that moved sporadically, pulled along by a flagella that moved in a spiraling motion. This organism belonging to the genus Anisonema also had another flagella which did not seem to move and was idly dragged along.

3. Anisonema. (Patterson, pg. 183).