After I obtained the components to my MicroAquarium and properly labeled them, I partially filled the MicroAquarium with water from the bottom of the bowl labeled #9, including a layer of sediment. This water comes from a pond found at Sterchi Hills Greenway Trail on Rifle Range Rd. After filling the remainder of the MicroAquarium with water from the middle and top of the sample, I added pieces of both plants, A and B. Upon completion of the setup, I placed the MicroAquarium on the microscope to observe at both 40x and 100x.

While I expected to see a large variety of life on the scope, I was surprised to see a vast colorful world that far exceeded my expectations. The first thing I saw was an organism that looked very much like a horseshoe crab, but on a much smaller scale. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Hudson introduced my to my first copepod. In the process of chasing the short, almost staccato movements of the copepod, I observed an number of other elements of my MicroAquarium, most of which are still a mystery. During this observation, I was also able to observe juvenile, as well as pregnant copepods, and many other organisms, some of which prefer the protection of the sediment and the shade of the plant life. I look forward to observing the growth and develoment of my MicroAquarium over the next several weeks.