A close examination of the life within a pond or lake reveals adaptive structures and behaviors that promote survival of many species. Yet, their life cycles and body structures tell us much about the natural world and the delicate balance within it.
- Ciliates introduces the range of cellular structures found in the phylum and discusses the purpose for the cilia-small hair-like structures on their exterior-plus, their food and reproductive mechanisms.
- Feeding of Microorganisms focuses on the varied strategies used by microorganisms to consume nourishment. Covers both photosynthetic and heterotrophic organisms and draws parallels between species using their similar strategies to access food.
- From Eggshell to Body Shell focuses on the life cycle of the water snail, that keeps plant growth in check and makes it a voracious consumer of plant material in still water and ponds.
- Locomotion of Microorganisms shows various strategies and methods that allow an organism to move--from the amoeba's creep, to the whipping tail of flagellates, and the ciliated protozoa's use of wave-like hairs.
- Microorganisms in Polluted Water thrive in water that is rich with their food: bacteria and other protists. Learn their role in cleaning polluted water.
- Mosquitoes, the Double Life From a single egg on a floating raft to larvae to the annoying, buzzing insect, mosquitoes provide a valuable food source for other creatures.
- Reproduction of Microorganisms focuses on the varied reproductive strategies, from binary division to the formation of eggs, or budding new offspring from the parent in multi-celled microorganisms.
- Rotifers All 2000 varieties have two crowns of cilia that work together to create a whirling rotation that allows some to move and others to draw food into their mouths.
- Water fleas Explore the habitat, behavior and reproductive process of this keystone species that consumes algae in water systems.