Addition of Beta Pellet

Friday, October the 22nd, one Beta Food Pellet produced by Ocean Nutrition, Aqua Pet Americas containing fish meal, wheat flower, soy meal, krill meal, minerals, vitamins and preservatives was introduced into the aquatic system (botany1112010.blogspot.com). Allowing time for effects of beta pellet, the system was observed on Tuesday, October the 26th. The expected increase in population and vivacity with in the system was not observed. The first change in the system noted was a reduction in life. This was most notable in the appearance of two protists of formidable size, such that they where noticeable with the naked eye, floating on the liquid surface of the system. Analysis suggested that the source of the carcasses did not come from the primary known predator in the system, the Utricularia gibba. Last week, following the video observation of the pod on the Utricularia gibba, a pod of this plant was opened for the observation of the contents. This is seen in the video in the final segment which observes a paramecium extracted from the pod. The carcasses of seed shrimp where also removed from the pod and observed to be reduced to a membrane. From this experience with the U. gibba, it seems that the plant can be eliminated as the source of the carcasses as both specimens where largely anatomically intact. At present, the cause of the carcasses remains a mystery. One hypothesis might be that the time between introduction of the pellet and observation of the system was significant enough to cause a population increase and subsequent crash. This hypothesis is not interpreted as accurate as portions of the beta pellet where observed semi dissolved within the matrix of the system. The only perceivable change in the system was a network of green filaments that have 'grown' over the bottom sediment layer of the system. The source of this phenomenon is as yet undetermined. Investigation into the physiology and cycles of the U. gibba in an effort to link or eliminate linkage between these two unknowns has produced only a few taxonomic sketches.