Six Years Ago I Made An Ecosystem In A Jar - This Happened

In this video we take a look at the now six year old spring ecosphere. This closed aquatic ecosystem has seen many changes throughout its life, with different plants and animals appearing and disappearing. Now, in the six year update on this huge self sustaining ecosystem in a jar, we see that a previously extinct species has come back.
Enjoy!
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[@youraveragechiptunehippie]

I love Life In Jars. The internet people finally use jars for a good reason.

[@watermelon5521]

😂

[@kilometerbob2662]

Im pretty sure those other jars were absolutely filled with life

[@1.4142]

life in coconuts

[@Billy426.]

Ambatakummaughayaghahggugahgghgghgghhgg

[@Billy426.]

Semenjar

[@watermelon5521]

I can't believe it's been 6 years since then... Time truly flies. Let's hope it goes another 6.

[@whannabi]

Time 🪰

[@4C52]

​@@whannabiTime 🪰🪰*

[@Powmoro]

i know right its crazy

[@tracybowling1156]

I think you are correct. I think your "Boogie Worms" went into a sort of hibernation until the environment could support them again. I love how that's a real-world life cycle.

[@snlop3927]

The size of your jar doesn't matter, it's what you do with it!

[@billbillson3129]

It's what's inside that counts? xD

[@daveetc.7399]

No, its about the motion in the ocean..

[@Jimjolnir]

Just make sure it's filled with water.

[@biteme0973]

so you are saying size does'nt matter? lol

[@snlop3927]

@@biteme0973 Unless you're building a school...for ants

[@aycfes2891]

you should try making a (probably larger) ecosphere specifically designed to contain multiple distinct microbiomes, to see how much it affects biodiversity for instance, making it a palludarium, having a corner full of rocks, one with a big piece of wood, etc

[@sando5943]

That would be really cool. I think even just having different depths would made a significant difference to the biodiversity.

[@jakobraahauge7299]

This ecosphere inspired mmy niece and me to make ecospheres a few years ago - one of them we had for three years, but then my father through it out 🥺 it's my niece 17 years birthday very shortly - now I have a great idea for a birthday present! She'll really like it - and I'll give her a beautiful jar to have one in her room! 😄 boogie time, I hope 🕺🏻

[@LifeinJars]

Awesome, enjoy it, both of you

[@jakobraahauge7299]

@@LifeinJars That I can promise you! 🤗

[@deafmusician2]

For your sake, I hope she remembers. Otherwise, she'll be thinking "Yay, a jar of pond water. Uncle has gone off the deep end."

[@jakobraahauge7299]

@@deafmusician2 lol we've made quite a few - she had a period where that was just the best! Some of them grew very old, I saved one. I thought! My father through it out, and both my niece and me were kinda sad about that. She's having a period, where she likes to revisit childhood hobbies and projects - I think it'll hit just the right spot of being a pretty, cute, and interesting thing that's a nice reminder of that childhood that flashed by so fast - I've saved the very nice vintage pickling glass jars we used. I'm kinda the uncle who's only cringe in ways that's not too embarrassing - that's a very big compliment from this young lady 😆 with the other stuff, I'm pretty sure I get this very right, but my goodness a funny image you planted in my head! Will definitely use it in the card 😂

[@badgerking800]

From what I have noticed with my ecosystem is that Boogie worms will, remain dormant for months or even longer. They disappear and reappear every couple of months.

[@ashleybellofsydney]

I love your patience in nurturing a new project.

[@jamesmeppler6375]

Nurturing new projects lol and then instantly puts them up to die till it finds a balance, couldnt be further from the definition of nurturing

[@m.i.c.h.o]

I can't stress enough that I love the ambient park-noise that you have in the background. Truly calming. Thank you

[@LifeinJars]

Nice to hear :)

[@ikosaheadrom]

Its always a joy to hear that duck laughing in the background

[@LifeinJars]

People are really starting to notice now :)

[@spingebill8551]

All those shrimp shells at the bottom were pretty cool. It reminds me of the shells of the microscopic organisms that make up the Sahara desert sand, but obviously not microscopic. It would be nice to see a ecosphere that the animal life consisted of mostly shelled organisms just to see if their shells build up over time into a colourful layer. I would give it a try but I’m only getting into the hobby.

[@dman8662]

When that amazing beat started I got hyped knowing who was gonna show up,boogie worms!!!

[@dogmadude1399]

What?? Three uploads within a month? You’re really on top of your game.

[@LifeinJars]

I try :)

[@curvingfyre6810]

This species of ostracod is one of my favorites. The thing with them is that they absolutely require a dense and healthy layer of mulm to thrive.

[@mr.lonewolf8199]

Tubifex worms are usual indicators for saprobic index. That probably means that ecological condition in the jar are high value of organic mater and low oxygen level, perfect condition for Tubifex worms XD

[@hypanusamericanus9058]

6:11 40? That’s impressive! I wonder what he thinks about all the technological advancements in the hobby.

[@mrmissalot8311]

One of my ecospheres has recently turned 5 years old, you inspired me to make it :). I made a Timelapse of it on my channel 👍

[@jakobraahauge7299]

aww! Had one that I had for three years - it had pretty green algae and ostrocods, really cute! But it got thrown out 🥺 I made it with my niece - now it's her birthday soon, and I finally have a cute gift idea (beyond the money, that's the most popular gift when one turns 17 😆)

[@mrmissalot8311]

@jakobraahauge7299 an ecosphere would be a great gift! I recently made one for my mum, it has a glass stone in it with a light underneath, the stone glows when the light is turned on, it looks lovely :)

[@daveetc.7399]

Glass stone or chrystal?

[@mrmissalot8311]

@daveetc.7399 Well, the proper term is slag glass lol, but I dont know if youtube would auto flag my comment 😂

[@mrmissalot8311]

I found the slag glass on the banks of a river, I guess there must have been a glass factory there in the past :)

[@michaelhyams632]

I'm glad to see an update on this jar! This was the jar that inspired me to make my own jar ecosystem back in July 2020, a few months after the two year update video and not too long after I discovered the channel. I originally added a few plants, but none lasted more than a few months. I had duckweed as well which lasted over a year. Stringy algae, much of which is above the water, now serves as the main source of photosynthesis. There are other algae growing on the glass and in the substrate. The substrate hosts some bacterial colonies as well. The water was quite murky for the first year or two before clearing up. In terms of macroscopic animals, it started out with amphipods, small ostracods, bladder snails, boogie worms, hydra, mites, and a huge leech. The only one that I have seen recently is the amphipods. The mites were the first to go, largely killing themselves by crawling into the jar's seal and getting stuck. The ostracods were surprisingly the second to go! The snails managed to reproduce and a few months in had a large population but went extinct by around a year or so. I suspect the leech was praying on them and the ostracods, as they both went extinct before the leech died. A leech that size would likely have been consuming macroscopic creatures, and it lived about a year. The boogie worms lasted a long time, and might still be in there, but I haven't seen any signs of them in over a year. I have seen hydra less than a year ago I think, but they are quite elusive. It's hard to say if they are extinct or are just hiding. I never saw more than three at a time. The amphipods are still going strong though! I would say the ecosystem is at a steady state at this point, with no noticeable changes occurring within the last year. The jar's seal is not perfect as evident by the water level dropping about a centimeter since its closing and algae growing in the seal. The jar has a glass lid with a ground glass seal. It can probably go another decade or so before I'll have to add some new water (from the same source as the original, of course). Anyway, thank you for inspiring this project!

[@RainbowDark]

I could've watched those little guys tunnelling around for hours, its like ants but way more satisfying somehow, probably cause the material is so soft

[@IWantMyHortTruck]

Jars like these are gonna be so important within the next century

[@homloklebenyterapia9790]

I do not know what to say. apart from kurzgesagt, your channel is the only English-language channel that I regularly watch. I click on all your videos immediately, I love that you pull ancient ecospheres out of nothing, you keep your promises, and you give your viewers a lot of knowledge.

[@LifeinJars]

Wow thanks

[@715kayla908]

Your channel inspired me to make an ecosphere during the pandemic, and four years later, it's still kicking!

[@cemernater]

In optimal conditions, Tubifex eggs can remain viable for several months to even years. Some studies suggest that under ideal circumstances, Tubifex eggs can remain dormant for up to five years or more. During this dormancy period, the eggs are resistant to adverse environmental conditions like desiccation and low oxygen levels. Once conditions become suitable for hatching, such as an increase in temperature and sufficient moisture, the dormant eggs can hatch, releasing larvae that eventually develop into adult Tubifex worms. This ability to remain dormant for extended periods contributes to the resilience and survival of Tubifex worms in various aquatic environments.

[@Sigvarg]

My theory is that the population shrunk and was only a very small population in the middle of the jar for some reason. Shrouded in the murky green water 🙂 but Yes, tubifex worms can enter a dormant state when conditions are not favorable, such as during drought or when water levels decrease. They form a protective cyst around themselves and can remain in this state until conditions improve.

[@KasumiRose77]

Always a good video. I love the updates. Thanks again. You're channel encouraged me 4 years ago to go get an ecosphere and I've been enjoying austricods and other tiny swimmers ever since!! I even got them some duck weed. It's great fun!

[@LifeinJars]

Nice, glad you enjoy it.

[@JamesGirl0016]

I don't know the timing from your videos, but is it possible the move disturbed the ecospheres' sediment layers enough to release byproducts from the anoxic bacteria? Because a disturbance (car or bike travel vibrates a lot on this scale) could have released a bunch of CO2 or sulfites into the water column, which may have affected biodiversity/balance.

[@LifeinJars]

Yes that might be possible

[@TheSeptemberRose]

Dance you crazy worms!!!! Fun fact: I first learned of tubifex worms when I was a kid in the 1970s, because I had pet newts and that's what I had to feed them. They were freeze dried cubes of Tubifex worms. I used to call them TubiFLEX worms, because I misread the label! 😅

[@LifeinJars]

Haha!

[@BIDP-]

I really like hearing the birds in the background during your voiceover! Please never remove them ❤️

[@angojones3713]

It never ceases to amaze me how much there is left to learn about some of theses smaller species. An algae bloom creates a bunch of oxygen, and all of a sudden that funky living shag carpet reappears. Thanks for another great video!

[@LifeinJars]

Haha yeah it's really fascinating

[@kinneyjoseph2]

I loved the boogie worm reveal so much! Thanks for selecting the shrimp footage like you did!

[@leevandyke4562]

I want to make one where its all stuff selected to work but do it slow. Start with store bought plants that's been cleaned, all the micro fauna and eventually macro fauna. Build it over the course of a year and then close it up.

[@theresekortte5450]

i used to fill jars with pond/creek water all the time when i was younger so i could see all the things that live in it. i was so happy when i found this channel

[@pauljs75]

Now I'm curious if there's similar projects to this channel from different parts of the world. It would be interesting to see what other species out there may be taking on the same roles.

[@ajaxrosso1]

I would love to see a super time lapse of one of these

[@jngaio]

Fascinating! I have an ecosphere I made in 2019 inspired by this channel and it has gone through many a life cycle.

[@jasonramirez637]

I remember this from years ago. Crazy to see it still thriving

[@clown134]

only on the internet would almost 20 thousand people find such justified interest in a moldy looking jar god i love technology

[@Pickloejoe]

I have been watching this channel from the start and I have a few ecosystems of my own. I love to see these updates keep it up!

[@Tomy_Yon]

6 years! Very impressive! 🌱

[@serraxer]

6 years, wow. Thank you for compacting it for us to 15 minutes.

[@zachrandallphotography]

Been following for years now, thanks for educational and enjoyable content. Much love

[@tamarrajames3590]

Pretty amazing to see the return of boogie worms after 5 years, and so much life popping up. You just never know what will happen with life in jars.🖤🇨🇦

[@LifeinJars]

Very true!

[@deafmusician2]

I made one about the same size about the same time (inspired by you). Mine finally turned dead and green because it wasn't getting enough light. This morning, I gave it a good shake. We'll see what it looks like tomorrow. Btw, I made a slightly smaller one from another body of water at the same time. It's clear as a bell now but is also dead. I don't want to shake it yet

[@speakp4ngolin]

Really cool seeing large ostracods vs the small dots for once

[@eva-hc9zg]

It's been 6 years since the HUUUUUUUUGE spring ecosphere was made?????????? That was the first video that popped up into my front page which made me excited for every new upload. I haven't watched any videos for some 2 years now and it just appeared into my front page again. This ecosphere is like fate. I hope you're doing well Mr. Jar man :-)!

[@niquil7800]

It would be very interesting to make a closed environment with measurement devices inside that can tell you all about the levels of nutriënts and co2 etc...

[@Alberad08]

Always fascinating - thanks a lot for sharing this!

[@theotay4715]

My ecosphere also had a sudden bloom of tubifex worms after a period of not seeing them. There were so many that they looked like a ball of minced meat.

[@yusufalfyfer9415]

Another awesome educational experience thanks bro

[@guymontag162]

We’re blessed to have Life in Jars.

[@ravenwingfeather4081]

Thinking of trying it

[@paulo_roberto900]

It must be a fascinating hobby to create miniature ecosystems inside recipients like jars.😮😮

[@Sk0p3r420]

These videos inspire me to get a glass go outside get some dirt, go to the forest nearby and get some water from the lake there and just see what happens. Do you think that it could turn out interesting for a small experiment? What kind of water is most interesting for something like this and where to source the dirt from preferably?

[@LifeinJars]

It could definitely be interesting! Go for it!

[@drewrobinson9120]

Tubifex worms are capable of encystment, forming a cyst around their body (or in tubifex case a portion of their body), which allows them to remain dormant for months or even years until conditions are suitable to become active again.

[@LifeinJars]

Cool!

[@bearnaff9387]

I know that keeping these ecosystems closed to gas exchange is the point, but I would love to see you try out a "successor" ecosystem with water samples and population seedings from your most successful closed ecosystems to date. It might be possible to preferentially shape a population of species that's more likely to survive in small closed-cycle environments by bringing the stable populations of different ecosystems together.

[@LifeinJars]

Interesting idea!

[@Leto85]

What an interesting thing to collect: closed ecosystems. You never open these jars? Just observing how the tiny world evolves? What an interesting concept.

[@filipinosonicfan]

Wow, these videos really interest me, ever since i was a kid. Stuff like these can contribute to the scientific community and research. I like that you, a random person, can maybe contribute to a great part of our understanding in this world.

[@raymiemiller1455]

I've only ever made one aquatic ecosphere, but ostracods went extinct in mine after only a few months. It's 4 years old now.

[@claynati0n357]

ive been wanting to make one, but im wondering if it stays by sunlight does pressure build up in these jars? is that something you have to look after when doing these ecosystems?

[@franciscom.bodinho2219]

My favorite part is when the ostracod say "it's ostracodding time" and ostracoded everywhere

[@lsedge7280]

Have you ever considered taking two long-term sealed ecosystems and a couple of years later briefly unsealing them to combine them into one larger ecosphere?

[@fish2468]

Behold, the “Jar Wars”… The Hydra Menace Attack of the Vallisneria Revenge of Crustacean A Huge Hope The Sediment Strikes Back Return of Algae The Copepod Awakens The Last Seed Shrimp The Rise of Tubifex

[@keyboardoracle1044]

Can’t wait to see this after 20 years. I wonder if new species will evolve.

[@gafrers]

Great update

[@RichieRah88]

Love this channel, how many jars do you currently have? Keep it up

[@LifeinJars]

Over 20

[@Tybold63]

Nerd factor is high and I like it !😆 Simply fascinating.

[@NinjaKittie121]

How often did you open the jar? It would be interesting to see what gases build up over time if it is completly sealed. It would also be interesting to see how the water chemistry has changed over time.

[@LifeinJars]

Not once!

[@the1stoftime]

it is summer but my closed terrarium was die in last summer due to 40c in my house then it felt down from shelf because of earthquake

[@LifeinJars]

oof

[@gamecheatmaster123]

Maybe it has something to do with the build up of detritus, or perhaps a buildup of something in the water over time? Since its a quite old closed ecosystem.

[@keavinmutuc282]

So cool to witness this 6 years later!

[@lamnaa]

Love listening to the parakeets in the background.

[@spatbee]

how do you store your jars so that they stay in the right light and temperature?

[@maltekempff4197]

How did you gain those animals in in your jar-eco, like hydra, tubifex, and the ithers? Dud all where initally in there, when you got the water in, or did you gain them differently, like any shops?

[@TheHarleyEvans]

this experiment is not only of biological value, but also of physics value as it demonstrates entropy in action, especially entropy in life, and rather bleakly shows us what the distant future has in store for life on earth

[@jackkeenan1360]

I love your videos! I've made ecospheres because of you

[@clarkecorvo2692]

crazy how resilient life is

[@stateazure]

I wonder how it smells, and what would happen if you drink a mouthful?

[@LifeinJars]

I think it doesn't really smell, I also think you'd be fine. (I drank one before and made a video about it)

[@leahnjr]

I was thinking of using a raspberry pi and some sensors to monitor closed systems.

[@mimemouse997]

I’m actually amazed that there is still life in there.

[@CadanL]

Do you know if the worms have a larval stage?

[@samevans4525]

I’ve heard stories of tubifex worm eggs surviving freeze drying and infecting peoples tanks from feeding their fish with freeze dried worms. The eggs are extremely resilient.

[@_VloneX_]

It was only one time guys, one TIMEE, and now everyone calls me life in a jar Martin

[@XwastcadetX]

I like your videos, thank you for making them

[@LifeinJars]

Thanks for watching them!

[@Mattball82]

That music with the worms dancing absolutely made my week ❤

[@zizmusic1097]

just amazing! more interesting that most of discovery channel ive ever seen

[@rebos6432]

the worms probably reappeared since their eggs are really resistant to environments. the bladder snails probably didn’t manage to survive since the water is likely becoming more and more acidic! (due to the everlasting cycle of decomposition of organic matter, likely releasing tannins and such compounds that lower the water’s pH)

[@rydercollins7705]

Is there any way you could fit a solar air stone/pump into a sealed ecosystem?

[@LushSaltyAquariums]

Hard to believe you made this BEFORE the Pandemic :0

[@AcanLord]

I really enjoy these videos.

[@jamesdagmond]

Life finds a way. I really loved this video. 👍

[@benburch3250]

I've read that Tubifex can form cysts to survive bad conditions. Perhaps that is what happened?

[@christopherchuauhang4829]

My favorite youtuber is back

[@Meervo]

What a twist!

[@FeatherleszBiped]

Is that an S 22? That bump design was peak phone design for me

[@corbanchildress8292]

I wonder if it would be possible to equip a raspberry pi with oxygen sensors and stuff and have it connected to a wireless rechargeable battery inside the closed system, sending data via wifi or Bluetooth

[@omsachinmahale9621]

Try a hybrid regulatory model having a gas inlet filling pressured CO2 in jar. Conclusion: conversion of CO2 into biomass

[@Arcterion]

>hear accent >see background environment This guy is 100% Dutch.

[@orestesbastos]

Ohh a jar that lets you follow oxygen, temperature and maybe some other factor would be amazing, maybe one that could detect nitrogen and/or amonia levels? Is that even possible?

[@_MaZTeR_]

Your clones are very impressive, you must be very proud

[@Intelligenthumour]

The jelly-like stuff on the glass, above the waterline, might be diatom colonies.

[@LifeinJars]

What are they doing up there?

[@Intelligenthumour]

@@LifeinJars Photosynthesizing, I'd imagine. The surface of the glass does have water and diatoms can move, despite the crystalline nature of their shells. Them being outside of the body of water where all of the bigger animals are would make them much more able to build up their populations. There's probably a ton of protists moving all around the surface of the glass above the waterline. If it wouldn't stop it from being an ecosphere then it'd be neat to take a sample from the glass.