Daphnia Magna are a larger species of water flea found in most ponds, rivers, and lakes in North America. If you swam in a lake, you were probably swimming with these harmless water insects. They are part of the food chain and provide food for small fish, and they eat algae. This was a very interesting microorganism to study, because it is transparent and the body parts can easily be identified. Detailed scientific drawings are available on line to help identify the body parts. The beating heart can be see and changes with temperature. The eggs and embryo’s can also be seen. Daphnia are a good specimen to start in microscopy.