Sowbug Lab Report

The purpose of this experiment is to determine which stimuli sowbugs prefer more, moist or dark. However, to confirm that sowbugs prefer dark and moist environments we had to create an experiment to prove this. We proved sowbugs prefer dark environments by using a lamp to create a light environment and cardboard over half the petri dish to create the dark environment; the sowbugs chose the dark side. Then we proved sowbugs preferred moist environments over dry ones by creating a wet environment on one side and a dry environment on the other side of the petri dish. After our final experiment, we were able to determine that sowbugs prefer the dark stimuli over moist stimuli.

In sum, we had a total of four different variables: pure cornstarch, natural raw wheat germ, extra virgin olive oil, and peanut oil. Our null hypothesis was that the larvae would have no preference toward any variable whatsoever. However, our alternate hypothesis was that the mealworms would prefer the habitat where the wheat and olive oil was present. For experiment 1, where my lab group and I predicted the mealworms would prefer the natural raw wheat germ rather than the pure cornstarch. This was determined by the food preferences of the adult version of the larva (tenebrionid beetle).

If a sow bug is placed in a choice tray, and has access to decaying leaves, potatoes, grapes, and sow bug food, the sow bug will choose the decaying leaves over its other options. This hypothesis was based on research stating that a sow bug's main food source is decaying vegetation. This is the food they are accustomed to and therefore will select over the other three options which they rarely if ever would have access to.

Pillbugs and sowbugs are terrestrial isopods that belong to the order Isopoda and the arthropod class crustacean. According to the Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, the terrestrial isopods have evolved from the marine forms. However despite the fact that they seek moist environments they must also avoid an overly moist environment (Journal of Insect Science, 2008). The two different species resemble one another phenotypically. However, pillbugs are a dark gray and the sow bugs are a light gray with posterior projections. Pillbugs also curl into a ball when they feel endangered and the sow bugs do not. The pill bugs used in this experiment were female. Isopods primarily live in dark, damp habitats in order to prevent dehydration (Isopod Behavior Lab). The purpose of this experiment was to determine the type of environment isopods prefer. First we tested to see if the isopods preferred a dry or moist environment and then we tested to see if they preferred the potting soil or the leaf litter environment. For the observation of isopods in response to moisture experiment it was said that each of the two different species would prefer a different environment. For part two, Observation of Isopods in response to other variables, it was hypothesized that the Isopods would prefer the potting soil or the leaf litter environment.

The mole is a convenient unit for analyzing chemical reactions. Avogadro’s number is equal to the mole. The mass of a mole of any compound or element is the mass in grams that corresponds to the molecular formula, also known as the atomic mass. In this experiment, you will observe the reaction of iron nails with a solution of copper (II) chloride and determine the number of moles involved in the reaction. You will determine the number of moles of copper produced in the reaction of iron and copper (II) chloride, determine the number of moles of iron used up in the reaction of iron and copper (II) chloride, determine the ratio of moles of iron to moles of copper, and determine the number of atoms and formula units involved in

The purpose of this lab was to identify unknown bacteria cultures using various differential tests, and my unknown bacteria is #17. The identification of these unknown cultures was accomplished by separating and differentiating possible bacteria based on specific biochemical characteristics. Whether the tests performed identified specific enzymatic reactions or metabolic pathways, each was used in a way to help recognize those specifics and identify the unknown cultures. The differential tests used to identify the unknown cultures were Gram stain, Catalase, Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), Blood Agar, Novobiocin, Coagulase, and DNAse (Alachi, 2007).

For the first procedure the student put 5ml of distilled water in to a test tube then picked up one filter paper and placed it in a dish. The 5ml of distilled water was then dropped on to the filter paper. The student then grabbed alcohol for its habitat solution, and placed 5 ml of alcohol in to another test tube, and placed a new filter paper in to another clean dish. The 5ml of alcohol was then dropped on to the filter paper. Once both filter papers were submersed in the proper liquid then they were taken out of the dish and out in to individual chambers that had a connection. On the left hand side was the water filter paper and on the right hand side the alcohol filter paper. The second procedure was to grab ten pill bugs and gently place them in to the alcohol and water chamber.

Isopods are land dwelling crustaceans also known as pill bugs. In the lab the isopods will be studied on ethology which is the study of animal behavior. The taxis and kinesis will also be studied of the isopods. Taxis is when a certain factor attracts or repels an individual. Kinesis is when an individual randomly moves because of a certain factor.

If a pillbug is exposed to milk, then it will be attracted to the soda.

The pill bugs lab was done to solve the problem of which type of food the pill bugs preferred, cucumber of pepperoni. My hypothesis was that the pill bugs will favor cucumber over pepperoni. In order to carry out this experiment, we used the chamber method to determine which food was favored by the pill bugs. Pieces of cucumber and pepperoni were placed on each end. Then five pill bugs were placed in each chamber, and their movement was observed and recorded. Because the results were so close to each other, we concluded that their reaction to the stimulus was a kinesis reaction, and it is only random. My hypothesis was not true because the standard error from the number of pill bugs in cucumber chamber and pepperoni chamber overlapped. This means that there is no scientific reason for why the pill bugs chose cucumber over pepperoni. I learned many new things in this experiment, such as, how to use a choice chamber, and how to calculate the standard deviation and error of the data. Also, I learned how pill bugs react to an outside threat.

In Israel there exists multiple spots in the mountains called Evolution Canyons, which are all located between a southern facing slope (SFS) and a northern facing slope (NFS). What’s particularly interesting about these locations is that despite the two slopes being on opposite sides of a small canyon, they exhibit extremely contrasting conditions. The SFS receives multiple times the UV radiation from the sun that the NFS receives, has fluctuating weather, and is generally an arid and less hospitable region compared to the temperate, stable environment of the NFS. Scientists collected wild type Sordaria fimicola inhabiting both slopes and discovered

Prior the conduction of this experiment, Sordaria of different ascus types (WT and T) were exposed to significant levels of radiation. There were three experimental groups for this experiment and crosses accordingly. Crosses were set up in containers by placing different Sordaria groups in alternating fourths of the mating agar. The Sordaria naturally grew outwards to the different adjacent Sordaria groups and inter-mated through meiosis. This provided a variety of different crosses throughout each experimental group. The squashes were prepared by obtaining a clear slide and placing a small amount of water in order to trap and spread out the perithecia. Once the individual perithecia were separated, they were busted by applying slight pressure with an eraser head, but done carefully enough not to pop the individual sacs. Frequencies were calculated by counting the number of

In each experiment , the pillbugs showed taxis. We observed how pillbugs incline toward dark and warm environments. There was a major distinction when the pill bugs picked between the dark and warm condition, 48 pill bugs went to the dark condition and 12 went to the light condition. By utilizing the chi-squared analysis, the calculated value ended up being 9.6 for the light and dark condition. This value was more prominent than the critical value of a 3.84. This implies the null hypothesis rejected in light of the fact that there is no contrast between these two conditions.When it came picking between the warm or cold condition there was a major distinction , 42 went to the cold condition and 18 went to the warm side. By utilizing the chi-squared

2. Throughout the three trials, the bugs seemed to either all be moving or not moving at one time. Some bugs climbed on top of each other or rode on each other’s backs. There were a few bugs that played dead. For example, one bug laid on its back while not moving for almost the entire lab. The bugs typically liked to stay near each other. For example, in the wet and dry test, at one point, all of the bugs were clumped on the far side of the dry chamber.

In this experiment, I investigated whether pillbugs are attracted towards a specific or different food types? I think this is a significant question because knowing what type of food pillbugs consume is very helpful in studying the characteristics and nature of pillbugs. What lead me in asking this question is that I was studying the nature of pillbugs and found that pillbugs feed on decomposing materials, and I thought what if decomposing materials were removed, what food the pillbugs would consume. To find this out, I set up behavior observation chamber (BOC) with 3 different foods; carrot, kale and tuna. I was interested in