Observation 4: November 6, 2013

Though the microaquarium seems to look the same as it has the past few weeks, some of the activity seems to be slowing down. The Nostocs I had seen moving before do not seem dead, but they are moving much less than previously observed. The Diatoms also seem to be stationary with some slow movements, but they are not as active as they were before. I am not sure if this is due to the tank getting older or if it was just a coincidence and the time of day that I viewed them.

Diatoms still seem to be the most prolific of the organisms, but I was able to identify a new organism today. It looks like an everyday common insect, mostly like a beetle, except it is transparent. It looks like it has a shell on its back and legs, which are actually cilia. It is clear and has "horn" type features on what looks to be it's head. It moves quickly and there are many of them and they vary in size. The photos I took are not great, but the organism can be seen (Patterson, 1964).