Organisms in a Drop
Of Water

Edelene B. Polo
BS Biology-1A

July 11, 2012

A scientific paper submitted to Professor Jocelyn E. Serrano in partial fulfilment of the requirements in General Biology1, 1st Semester 2012-2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
ABSTRACT 4
I. INTRODUCTION 4
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS 6
A. Location and Duration of the Study 6
B. Hay Infusion 6
C. Treatments 6
D. Materials during the Experiment 7
E. Actual Experimentation 7
a. Tap Water 7
b. Water from the river stored in a room temperature 8
c. Water from the river stored in a dark room 8
F. Flow Chart of the Procedure 9
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 16
Tap Water 16
Water from the River Stored In a Room Temperature 17
Water from the River Stored In a Dark Area 18
IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 19
A. Summary 19
B. Conclusion 20
BIBLIOGRAPHY 21
APPENDIX (LIST OF PLATES) 22
Plate 1.. 23
Plate 2.. 23
Plate 3.. 24
Plate 4.. 24
Plate 5. 25
Plate 6. 25
Plate 7. 26
Plate 8.. 26
Plate 9 27
Plate 10. 27

ABSTRACT
The laboratory study was conducted at Room 106 in CSB3 of Bicol University College of Science, Legaspi City from July 2-5, 2012. Water sample was collected from Travesia River in Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay. Tap water was collected from the faucet at Polo’s Residence in Villa Maria Subdivision Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay. Dried Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrical) or locally known as Gogon grass was collected from Mabugos, Guinobatan, Albay. There are three (3) treatments in this study, T0 (tap water), T1 (water from the river stored in a room temperature) and T2 (water from the river stored in a dark area). Water samples were observed in a compound light microscope both under LPO and HPO. The most common organism present in the water samples are the paramecium (Paramecium caudatum). Life is anywhere to be found. The color, shape, movement and size of organisms as well as the behavior and direction of their movement vary depending on the kind of water sample to be examined.

I. INTRODUCTION
What lives in a pond water? We might be surprised at how many living things are present in just one drop of water from it. Every drop of water in ponds has various life forms. The best method of observing microorganisms in pond water is to collect water samples and then observe it under the microscope.
From outer-space, the earth looks like it is covered with veins and arteries, similar to our bodies. The earth's arteries, however, are really a vast web of rivers and streams that channel water across the planet, from mountains to oceans. Although there are many rivers and streams, these sources of running water account for a very small portion of the earth's total surface, just 0.3%. (Missouri Botanical Garden, 2010)
Pond water, like the water found in lakes, rivers and spring, is considered fresh water. And because water attracts most living things in order to stay alive, a whole bunch of small organisms reside within pond waters which they have turned into their source of nutrient and habitat. (Reverse Osmosis, 2010)
Scientists estimate that there are over 50,000 different species of protozoans. Even at that, there are many new protists yet to be found as new species are identified regularly. (Microbus, 2007)
There are many organisms that are present in pond water. There can be bacteria which are a large group of single celled organisms that are found in every corner of the earth, protozoa which are unicellular eukaryotes that in contrast to prokaryotes has a nucleus that encloses the genetic material, algae which may be unicellular or multi-cellular but are essentially autotrophic, that through the process of photosynthesis they can manufacture their own food, rotifers which are a type of multi-cellular micro-animals that are most commonly found in freshwater, although some forms are also adapted for life in salty waters of the seas and oceans or hydra which is another freshwater animal that is most commonly found in pond water.

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Location and Duration of the Study
The laboratory study was conducted at Room 106 in CSB3 of Bicol University College of Science, Legaspi City. Water sample was collected from Travesia River in Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay. Tap water was collected from the faucet at Polo’s Residence in Villa Maria Subdivision Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay. Dried Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrical) or locally known as Gogon grass was collected from Mabugos, Guinobatan, Albay. The duration of the study is from July 2-5, 2012.

B. Hay Infusion
An equal amount of water sample was poured into two the same glass container. A handful of Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrical) was added to the water sample. One glass was stored in a room temperature (to be exact, at the top of the refrigerator) and the other glass was stored in a dark area (inside the cabinet). The infusion was incubated for about three (3) days before the actual experimentation.

C. Treatments
There are three (3) treatments in this study, Treatment 0 or T0 (tap water), Treatment 1 or T1 (water from the river stored in a room temperature) and Treatment 2 or T2 (water from the river stored in a dark area)

D. Materials during the Experiment
Each group was permitted to borrow three (3) compound light microscopes, three (3) droppers and three (3) glass slides in the BUCS Laboratory. Professor Jocelyn E. Serrano provided the cover slips used in the activity. Brine solution, a mixture of salt and water and Sugar solution, a mixture of table sugar and water were prepared which served as stimuli to the organisms. An aluminium foil was used to cover the glass container when the samples were brought to the place of experimentation.

E. Actual Experimentation
The microscopes were cleaned by tissue paper in preparation for the activity. This activity was done during the laboratory in General Biology of Bicol University BS Biology-1A students. Each microscope has a designated treatment to be examined. Microscope no.1 was for T0 (tap water), Microscope no.2 was for T1 (water from the river stored in a room temperature) and Microscope no.3 was for T2 (water from the river stored in a dark area). The total magnification of the microscope under LPO is 100x while when it is under HPO its total magnification is 400x.
a. Tap Water
A glass slide containing a drop of tap water was examined under the microscope. The water sample was observed under the LPO and HPO. Under LPO, a sketch of what was seen in the microscope was prepared and the color, shape, movement and relative size of living microorganisms were noted. The second one is the sketch of what was seen in the microscope under HPO. A note was also prepared for the color, shape, movement and relative size of living microorganisms observed.

b. Water from the river stored in a room temperature
A drop of water from the river stored in a room temperature was placed on a glass slide and was examined under the microscope. Sketches of what was seen in the microscope were prepared both when viewed in LPO and HPO. The color, shape, movement and relative size of living microorganisms were noted. Observations on the behavior and direction of movement of the organism were also noted when a drop of Brine solution as well as when a drop of Sugar solution was placed at the edge of the glass slide.

c. Water from the river stored in a dark room
A glass slide containing a drop of water from the river stored in a dark room was examined under the microscope. When both viewed in LPO and HPO, a sketch of what was seen and a note of the color, shape, movement and relative size of living microorganisms were prepared. When a drop of Brine solution as well as when a drop of Sugar solution was placed at the edge of the glass slide, observations on the behavior and direction of movement of the organism were also noted.

F. Flow Chart of the Procedure

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Tap Water
LPO

HPO

HPO

Water from the River Stored In a Room Temperature
LPO

HPO

Water from the River Stored In a Dark Area
LPO

HPO

Treatment 1 (T1) and Treatment 2 (T2) showed the same behavior and response when:
a. a drop of Brine solution is placed at the right side of the glass slide
The organisms tend to move or glide away from the solution and from a period of time, it moved slower and slower until it stopped and died. Some organisms which were able to survive changed its rate in moving.

b. a drop of Sugar solution is placed at the right side of the glass slide
The organisms went towards the spot where the solution was abundant but when the amount of solution increased some of the organisms died. Some organisms changed its speed from slow to fast in order for them to survive.

IV. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
A. Summary
The most common organism present in the water samples are the paramecium (Paramecium caudatum). There are more organisms found and seen in Treatment 2 which is the water from the river stored in dark area than in Treatment 1 which is the water from the river stored in a room temperature. But compared to Treatment 1 and Treatment 2, Treatment 0 has the least number of present organisms. Almost all the organisms seen in the microscope was transparent. At a period of time, the sizes of organisms change. The movement of organisms vary, whether they glide, in a zigzag form or just roaming around a certain area.
Organisms went towards the Sugar solution while it moved away when the solution is a Brine solution. In Sugar solution, some organisms changed its speed from slow to fast in order for them to survive while in Brine solution, it moved slower and slower until it stopped and died.

B. Conclusion
There are organisms present everywhere that we can’t see with our naked eye. With the aid of the microscope, these organisms can be identified and can be examined.
The presence of light affects the formation of organisms in a water sample. Absence of light makes the infusion contain a lot of microorganisms. Cultured water samples (T1 and T2) contain more microorganisms compared to uncultured ones (T0).
Organisms have the capability to adapt on an unspecified area which makes them exist and survive. They also have their own way of moving. This proves that life is anywhere to be found.
Organisms react differently depending on the kind of stimulus to be applied or to be used. The speed changes when either of the solution is placed. There is a low possibility for an organism to survive both in Brine and Sugar solution especially if the amount placed in the glass slide is too much. If the amount of the solution is great, then the possibility that the organisms will die is great too
The color, shape, movement and size of organisms as well as the behavior and direction of their movement vary depending on the kind of water sample to be examined.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Internet Sites: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/microorganisms-in-pond-water.html http://www.microscope-microscope.org/applications/pond-critters/pond-critters.htm http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/rivers/index.htm http://blog.reverseosmosis.com/2010/12/pond-water-living-organisms.html

Appendix
(List of Plates)
Plate 1. This is the river in Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay where the water sample was collected.
Plate 2. This is the faucet where the tap water was collected. It is located at the kitchen of Polo’s Residence in VMS, Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay.
Plate 3. Dried Cogon grass gathered from Mabugos, Guinobatan, Albay.
Plate 4. The three (3) glass containers which stores the three (3) treatments.
Plate 5. The first treatment which is the tap water.
Plate 6. The second treatment which is the water from the river stored in a room temperature.
Plate 7. This is the third treatment which is the water from the river that is stored in a dark area.
Plate 8. The three (3) compound light microscopes used in the activity.
Plate 9. A dropper which was used for sipping and transferring small amount of water samples.
Plate 10. Glass slide which is used to contain the water sample needed to be examined in the microscope.

Plate 1. This is the river in Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay where the water sample was collected.

Plate 2. This is the faucet where the tap water was collected. It is located at the kitchen of Polo’s Residence in VMS, Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay.

Plate 3. Dried Cogon grass gathered from Mabugos, Guinobatan, Albay.

Plate 4. The three (3) glass containers which stores the three (3) treatments.

Plate 5. The first treatment which is the tap water.

Plate 6. The second treatment which is the water from the river stored in a room temperature.

Plate 7. This is the third treatment which is the water from the river that is stored in a dark area.

Plate 8. The three (3) compound light microscopes used in the activity.

Plate 9. A dropper which was used for sipping and transferring small amount of water samples.

Plate 10. Glass slide which is used to contain the water sample needed to be examined in the microscope.