Second Observation, October 20, 2011

Upon entering the lab and looking at my MicroAquarium with the unaided eye, the water level seems lower and a few air bubbles are present. Plant A seems to be darker in color. On top of the mud layer, there is a small amount of debris.
Under the microscope, there are many organisms to observe and identify. A branched algae, Coleochaete irregularis, is growing (Forest 89). Ciliates and flagellates are busy moving around the tank. One flagellate, a Notosolenus-like organism, has a long flagellum pulling it along (Patterson 54). Turning slowly, an oval-shaped ciliate passes by. I am unable to determine exactly which ciliate it is, but vacuoles and short surrounding cilia are easy to discern. Tiny clusters of diatoms are attached primarily to the sides of the tank. Many Ostracoda class seed shrimp zoom around, scavenging, and I recall that some were in the tank at the initial observation at set-up (Microscopy-UK 1995-2011). I notice several plant bladders. Inside a dead bladder there is a dead seed shrimp. Interestingly, a rotifer is feeding inside the bladder. At the mouth of another plant bladder, a Philodina species rotifer is attached to the inside by its feet (Patterson 27). Also, many Vorticella species are attached to the edges of plant bladders (Patterson 113).