This week instead of seeing a large Nematode, I saw a large Midge which was very exciting. I took a few pictures of it too. He was just hiding around in the soil at the bottom, he was hard to see and even harder to get a picture of.  I was able to identify a Gastrotricha with the help of Dr. McFarland and the book Pennak, Robert W. Fresh-water Invertebrates of the United States. New York: Wiley, 1978. I also saw a few Snails again this week. Dr. McFarland said that he had not seen very many Gastrotricha this year and was very excited to see all the ones that were in my micro aquarium. I was unable to get a good picture of them because they were constantly moving around. 

I really enjoyed this term project and thought it was very interesting, and I am very happy I was able to participate. 

Week Three

Well again this week when I went to look at my micro aquarium and I didn't see nearly as many organisms. I do not understand why my numbers are down because the week before Dr. McFarland put in one pellet of Beta food:  "Atison's Betta Food" made by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas, 3528 West 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. Ingredients: Fish meal, wheat flower, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins and preservatives. Analysis: Crude Protein 36%; Crude fat 4.5%; Crude Fiber 3.5%; Moisture 8% and Ash 15%. With this added I though this would continue to provide the organisms in my aquarium with the nutrients they needed to survive. This week was a few smaller Nematodes, none of the larger ones. I also saw some Colops sp. and a few Snails and they were all very large, I could actually see they without the micro scope. 
This coming week I will take more pictures, I am hoping to take one of a large Nematode.