Week Two

I observed my aquarium on 11-1-07. The Chironomous larva that was discovered last week was not in my aquarium this week. However, I did notice that the number of rotifers in my aquarium had increased. They were mostly around the moss at the bottom of the aquarium. Dr. McFarland pointed out a Acolosoma to me. This is an Annelid worm that was sitting at the bottom of my aquarium. While Dr. McFarland was observing it, he saw the worm eat a rotifer. There was also a lot of ciliates in my aquarium. These organisms were easy to spot because they were jerking and swimming around quickly. The top picture is a picture of the Annelid worm that ate the rotifer. The mouth of the organism is on the right, and if you look to the left of the mouth and about middle ways down the body you can see the rotifer. Dr. McFarland said the worm will constrict the rotifer and digest it. The bottom picture is a picture of one of the rotifers in the aquarium.