Friday November 7th

Zygnema Algae (Fig 27a, Prescott)

Utricularia gibba (http://botany1112009.blogspot.com/) with ameoba inside.

A Gastroticha (pp. 158, Pennak)

Lacane Rotifer (Fig. 35, Pennak)

This weeks observations have variably met my expectations. The first thing I noticed was the substantial growth of zygnema with stellate, star shaped, chloroplasts (Fig. 27a Prescott) algae and the presence of asterionella diatoms (Fig. 235, Lund) which are a beautiful star shaped algae which were not present during my observations Oct. 30. The diversity of other micro-organisms and their numbers are lower than I expected. I observed a single cyclops, perhaps the same as last weeks, floating near the bottom of the aquarium remaining very still. I'm not sure if it was alive or dead but it remained motionless for the few minutes I observed it. I did observe 2 Euglena Helicoideus, one less than last week, but I presume there are more hiding in the muck. I counted two gastrotichas during my 30 minute observation. The biggest population change was the number of Lacane Rotifers (p. 158, Pennak) of which I counted approximately 9 near the bottom and lower third of the aquarium, which is 6 more than I have previously observed. I haven't seen many dead organisms but again I presume they would be hidden in the muck or already consumed. I did see two empty difflugia shells but not the difflugia observed last week.