Observations by chaser254

Daphnia are small microscopic crustaceans broadly termed as “water fleas” that belong to a group call Daphniidae, with around 150 known species in North America. (Clare 2002) Daphnia are easily identified by their jerky motion which looks like a flea jumping in the water when they move. Most of them are predacious, eating algae and phytoplankton but some are herbivorous which eat vegetation and decaying organic matter (Clare 2002). Daphnia are asexual and will make clones of themselves during reproduction. http://www.caudata.org/daphnia/#what1

Euglena spirogyra, are microscopic organisms that can be identified by having an elongated cell with one nucleus, multiple chloroplasts, one or two flagella, a vacuole, and one eye that is sometimes red.(Brit 2016) This species is one of over 1,000 species of single-celled flagellated microorganisms.(Brit 2016) Euglena are classified in the Kingdom Protista and Phylum Euglenophyta and are very interesting organisms because they contain both plant and animal characteristics. (Brit 2016) These are very unique because they are autotrophic and heterotrophic, allowing them to absorb sunlight through chloroplasts for making its own food or absorbing food directly by entrapping food particles in a vacuole. (Brit 2016) Euglena gracilis is an asexual species which reproduces by longitudinal cell-division and lives in fresh and brackish waters.

Found in a small non-flowing side stream which created a pond-like aquatic system containing aquatic plants, minnows, algae, several different types of larvae, and many zoo plantkton.
The Non-biting Midge is a fly that occurs on natural or man-made inland and coastal bodies of water. It is a flying aquatic insect that resembles a mosquito but does not bite like one. The midge is a very tolerant fly and can be found in many different aquatic habitats, such as slow rivers, fast streams, lakes, and ditches. The midge lifecycle begins in the water, where it lives until it becomes an adult; thriving in waters that are rich in nutrients and decomposing organic matter, making it an indicator of water quality. (Apperson 2006) The midge was in the larval stage during observation which resembled a small worm about two centimeters long.
. https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts /ent/notes/Urban/midges.htm

Rotifers are mostly freshwater animals and are some of the smallest members of multicellular animals. They are very impressive microorganisms because they have a very simplified organ system and can survive in harsh conditioned live for a very long time.(MG 2016) The most famous part about a rotifer is its Corona, a feature which looks like two spinning wheels made of beating cilia… the corona has several functions which aid in its survival by acting as the arms which bring food to the mouth and propellers which moves it rapidly from place to place.( MG 2016) Rotifers are ecologically important to aquatic systems . Two of the main ways they help is by aiding in the natural purification of water and feeding on algae. (MG 2016)
http://www.micrographia.com/ specbiol/rotife/homebdel/bdel0100.htm

Observed in 10" of water right off the bank of shallow wetlands, located 400 yards behind the Proctor lake dam. The wetland is a part time wetland that will grow/shrink in size, depending on the precipitation and temperature. Ramshorn Snails are from the Planorbidae Family. They reside in small disc shaped shell that looks like a curling Rams horn. There are many species of ramshorn snail distributed in freshwater all over the world.

Ramshorn Snail (Planorbis rubrum) is a species of mollusks that are common in all freshwater habitats and are from the class Gastropoda (snails, slugs), family Planoribidae: its common name comes from their disk-like shell which resembles the horn of a ram. (RS 2013) Ramshorn are fast growers and can quickly become a nuisance in closed aquatic systems. Ramshorn snails are hermaphrodites and will start breeding 4 weeks after birth, producing many offspring at once. (RS 2013) Ramshorn snails feed on algae, vegetation, dead fish and even fish flakes.http://ramshornsnails.com/