February marks the beginning of limited experimentation between the two readied systems! Also, we set up our new system (coke bottle)!
We've finally gotten some of our own numbers for the Kreisel and System 2. As mentioned, in January we placed 5 Ephyrae in each of the two. Unfortunately, the mortality rate was high for those two. The Kreisel did fare better,with 2 of the Ephyrae remaining. In System 2, we had 1 remaining. On February 9th, We added 2 more ephyrae to each system. Unfortunately, System 2 suffered from an accident in which the magnetic turn table stopped rotating, due to an error while cleaning the system. The plate which the rounded glass container sits atop was removed, causing the magnet to stop rotating the stirring magnet (inside of the container itself). Only 1 ephyrae is left (but it's looking healthy). As a result, we can only really count the first 5 ephyrae. In the Kreisel, we have seen more survival, as well as great ephyrae development. An ephyrae pictured (one of the initial 5) has grown to approximately the size of the nail of my little finger (~1 x 1.25 cm).
We've set up the 3rd test system, the inverted coke bottle in a beaker. As you can see, the bottle has 6 holes drilled in to the bottom. One hole is used for the air hose to go inside the beaker...
... where a hold is drilled into the cap, allowing the airhose to stick through the bottom....
Thank you to my hand-model, Aaron
....to supply a constant air flow.
The system in the water is pictured below
On the note of strobilation, we have gotten many more ephyrae from the polyps. We transferred 3 more ephyrae to each system (including the new experimental system). Additionally, we took one petri dish of polyps out of their system, and replaced them into a bucket of saltwater from their system, but allowed it to warm to the ambient heat. We let it sit out about 135 minutes total (2 hours, 15 minutes), and the temperature rose from 13 Celsius to 17 Celsius , and are waiting to see the results. If temperature shock does not cause strobilation, we will try salinity. So far, no problems have been experienced with the different systems, in terms of leaks or cracks in the glass. I can only hope our luck will continue, hopefully giving us a bountiful strobilation period!
We've finally gotten some of our own numbers for the Kreisel and System 2. As mentioned, in January we placed 5 Ephyrae in each of the two. Unfortunately, the mortality rate was high for those two. The Kreisel did fare better,with 2 of the Ephyrae remaining. In System 2, we had 1 remaining. On February 9th, We added 2 more ephyrae to each system. Unfortunately, System 2 suffered from an accident in which the magnetic turn table stopped rotating, due to an error while cleaning the system. The plate which the rounded glass container sits atop was removed, causing the magnet to stop rotating the stirring magnet (inside of the container itself). Only 1 ephyrae is left (but it's looking healthy). As a result, we can only really count the first 5 ephyrae. In the Kreisel, we have seen more survival, as well as great ephyrae development. An ephyrae pictured (one of the initial 5) has grown to approximately the size of the nail of my little finger (~1 x 1.25 cm).
We've set up the 3rd test system, the inverted coke bottle in a beaker. As you can see, the bottle has 6 holes drilled in to the bottom. One hole is used for the air hose to go inside the beaker...
....to supply a constant air flow.
On the note of strobilation, we have gotten many more ephyrae from the polyps. We transferred 3 more ephyrae to each system (including the new experimental system). Additionally, we took one petri dish of polyps out of their system, and replaced them into a bucket of saltwater from their system, but allowed it to warm to the ambient heat. We let it sit out about 135 minutes total (2 hours, 15 minutes), and the temperature rose from 13 Celsius to 17 Celsius , and are waiting to see the results. If temperature shock does not cause strobilation, we will try salinity. So far, no problems have been experienced with the different systems, in terms of leaks or cracks in the glass. I can only hope our luck will continue, hopefully giving us a bountiful strobilation period!