Analysis of Microorganisms in a Hay Infused Ecosystem

Ritik Nihalani, Reeca Garcia, Beatriz Carandang

Abstract
This research was used to analyze different microorganisms in a hay infused ecosystem. Hay
infused water is used to simulate the ecosystem to analyze the different microorganism living in
that kind of ecosystem. Microorganisms vary from abeoma and the like. The growth of these
microorganisms was affected by different external factors occurring in the environment like
rainfall and sunlight. After many week of being exposed outside there was also growth of
maggots and the water is entirely different from the water before. The water is examined through
a microscope and the researchers observed the diverse microorganisms present.

Introduction
The research focused on analyzing
hay infusions and the organisms that
develop inside this hay infusion when
exposed to sunlight. It involved exposing the
hay infusion to the sun so that the organisms
inside can be created and developed.
According to microbehunter, to
create a hay infusion, you must have a hand
full of hay, a large beaker, pond water and
some milk. You get the hay or dried grass
and cut into smaller pieces. Place the cut
pieces into the beaker and add about 0.5 1
liter of water. Add 1-2 drops of milk. The
milk will serve as food for the bacteria. Let
the beaker stand open for several days and
collect samples and then investigate under a
microscope (n.d.).

According to microbus, a hay

infusion is the most common culturing
technique. It simulates microscopic life
similar to ponds, lakes, streams, rivers,
ocean backwater estuaries and rain puddles.
Hay infusions, after a few days, will produce

small protozoans such as Chilomonas which

will populate your culture. If Paramecium
are present, they will feed on the
Chilomonas and eventually increase in
number. The organism that is on the top of
the food chain will be the most common but
will eventually die if the food supply is
exhausted (n.d.).

Now
what
are
protozoans?
According to Robert G. Yaeger, protozoa are
one-celled animals found worldwide in most
habitats. Most species are free living, but all
higher animals are infected with one or more
species of protozoa. Protozoa are
microscopic unicellular eukaryotes that have
a relatively complex internal structure and
carry out complex metabolic activities.
Some protozoa have structures for
propulsion or other types of movement. On
the basis of light and electron microscopic
morphology, the protozoa are classified into
six phyla (1996).

The research focused on analyzing a

self-made hay infusion by the researchers.
The researches were tasked to let the hay
infusion develop organisms and then
analyze the water and organisms in the
water through a microscope. The research
was only for analysis purposes only.

Materials and Methods

The researchers used hay to infuse

the water so that they can simulate an
ecosystem. They also placed soil in the hay
infused water that may eventually affect the
growth of the different microorganisms
living in the ecosystem. After many weeks
of being exposed under the sunlight and rain
the water was examined under a microscope.
They used a dropper to get water from the
hay infusion and made it their samples and
they placed the samples on a glass slide. The
researchers
analyzed
the
different
microorganisms
they
saw
on
the
microscope. They used many samples to
find more microorganisms in the simulated
ecosystem. They took a picture of the
microorganisms they saw like amoeba and
more. Lastly, they gathered all the data that
they have collected.

Discussion

The researchers found that there

were indeed organisms developing in the
hay infusions. The researchers were able to
analyze the micro-organisms that were
inside the hay infusions. This complies with
microbus as that site states a hay infusion is
a simulation of ponds, lakes, streams, rivers,
ocean backwater estuaries and rain puddles.
The hay infusion similar to the examples
produce micro-organisms that can be viewed
under a microscope.

Results and Conclusion

After three weeks of testing, the
results were minimal up until the final week.
The water was mostly clean initially. Barely
anything aside from dirt and bubbles could
be seen in the clear water. Yet after two
weeks of clear water, the third week saw the
appearance of microorganisms moving
through the water. A maggot was also found,
being a miniature worm-like creature. Under
the microscope it was shown to have hair
across its length and a mouth that moved in
a pinching motion. It swished and constantly
moved within the liquid. It was dark in
color, possibly a dark brown, much like the
dirt. When comparing with our fellow
groups, we discovered that the infusions
kept for the longest duration of time yielded
dirtier water and finitely more organisms.
We deduced that us folk with cleaner,
organism-free concoctions had not simulated
the pond long enough, therefore decreasing
our organism presence count.