Date:1/19/17

Rationale: Through this experiment, we were searching to have a general introduction to an array of Ciliates while becoming familiar with how to use a dissecting microscope.

Procedures:

1. Clean workspace with 10% bleach solution in spray bottles
2. Obtain clean 24-well plate
3. Use a plastic pipette to place each unknown into each well and fill halfway. Note which unknown is placed in each well and use one pipette per each culture to prevent cross contamination.
4. Observe each unknown under dissecting microscope and record observations to the best of your ability.
5. Sketch each ciliate and browse Ciliate Identification Guide to make a tentative identification.
6. Put all observations and notes into your lab notebook and show your work to an instructor.
7. Turn off microscopes.
8. Place 24-well in the storage cabinet in the back of the room.
9. Clean workspace using 10% bleach solution.
10. Discuss “Questions that Matter” handout with group and write down answers; turn in handout once completed.

Observations:

Unknown A

• In reciprocal A1
• Oval shaped
• One of the smaller ciliates observed
• Moved around very fast and frantically, some stayed still
• Spread out through the entire well of A1
• Had a grey/green tinting
• Name of ciliate through observation: Holosticha

Unknown B

• In reciprocal A2
• Thin, long, rod shaped
• Much longer than the first ciliate
• Moved around slowly but constantly, sometimes spinning
• Just one ciliate in the culture, moved around entire media
• Can see a flap along the ciliate
• Name of ciliate through observation: Spirostomum

Unknown C

• In reciprocal A3
• Small rods with large mid section
• Medium size, one of the smaller ciliates though
• Moved around slowly but constantly
• Many within the culture
• Red coloring and darker mid section
• Name of ciliate through observation: Paramecium

Unknown D

• In reciprocal A4
• Small, round shaped
• The smallest of the observed ciliates
• Moved around the culture very slowly
• Very few within the culture, moved all around media, slowly
• Had green tint with dark features, looked to have hairs along one side
• Name of ciliate through observation: Euplotes

Unknown E

• In reciprocal A5
• Long rod shape with circle at the end, looked like a tadpole.
• Large in comparison to other ciliates observed
• Moved around slowly and randomly moving
• Large array of objects in the culture, only a few moving ciliates
• Had green tint as well as similar hairs on one side to Unknown D
• Name of ciliate through observation: Stentor

Conclusion: This experiment was very interesting due to its capability of allowing us to investigate the broad diversity within the world of ciliates. As we only looked at five of the ciliates out there, it was easy to see that no two are the same and there is a great diversity from one specie to the next. This experiment helped us to  understand how to use the dissecting microscopes in order to analyze different specimens. I found it very fascinating to witness the difference in sizes, colors, motions and overall features of each of the Ciliates.  To further examine these Ciliates, I will now go into further detail to assure that I have documented and labelled each of the Ciliates correctly and will cross examine theses ciliates with others to make sure I have made the appropriate conclusions in labelling.

Storage: My ciliates from this experiment are stored in the back cabinet of the classroom. My 24 well plate is labeled with Brooke, BVH, Section 4, and Spring ’17. This will keep my cultures safe until further analysis.