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17, 2011
Introduction
The purpose of this experiment was to observe the behaviors of pill bugs and crickets. Observations were made regarding how male and female crickets mate and act around each other. An example of what was observed in this lab includes how male crickets became more aggressive as more females were added in the container. This experiment also required applying a certain environmental change to the pill bugs. Phototaxis was the environmental change used in this lab, and some interesting observations were made regarding the pill bugs and crickets.
Conclusions
Part B: Crickets
The crickets were also quite interactive. They were jumping, chirping, and crawling over each other
(see Table 4: General population of crickets). It was interesting to watch them use their antennas to observe each other and their surroundings. A fishing line was used to stroke their antennae and abdomen. This showed that when stroking their antennae, they use it to observe it and begin to crawl up the fishing line as though to really find out what it was. When stroking the abdomen, they use their back legs to try and get it off (see Table 5: Using a fishing line to stroke). When three male crickets were isolated in a container with two egg domes, they basically observed each other and the domes (see Table 6: Observation of 3 male crickets). The cricket was observing the fishing line because it wasnt familiar with this object. It had been in an empty container and this was something it didnt recognize. Also, when the three males were put in a container together, they had to observe each other and where they were. This is because they werent used to each other and this new environment with less crickets together. For this part of the lab, it could be made better if other objects were used besides fishing line to see how crickets react to different objects. An example of an object that could be used is a piece of candy or gum. There are a few errors that occurred which include bumping the container causing them to jump which is distracting them from what they were doing before, and not starting the timer as soon as the crickets were put in the container. This means they had more time to accommodate to each other and having more time than was necessary.
Table 1: Behaviors
1 minute: 2 minutes: 3 minutes: 3 4 2 1 3 pill bugs in a huddle pill bugs in a huddle on top of each other on its back pill bugs on top of each other
4 minutes:
- 1 crawling over 2 - 1 smaller pill bug on top of another - 3 pill bugs on top of another - 1 migrated from set of 3 to another set - 1 still on its back - 2 still on top of each other - 4 pill bugs on top of each other - 2 pill bugs on top of each other - 1 pill bug crawled on top of another - 2 groups of 3 formed -1 pill bug from one group moved to another group - 1 pill bug joined a group of 3 - another one joined that group to make it a group of 4 - 3 pill bugs kept to themselves - 2 pill bugs helped another off of its back - group of 5 formed
Table 2: Interactions A
1 minute: 2 minutes: 3 minutes: 4 minutes: 5 minutes: 6 minutes: 7 minutes: 8 minutes: 9 minutes: 10 minutes: 5 5 5 7 7 7 6 6 5 5 2 2 3 2 2 2 3 4 5 5
1 2 3 2 2
9 8 7 8 8
3 minutes: 4 minutes:
5 minutes:
Table 5: Using a fishing line to stroke Stroking its antennae abdomen Stroking its
She uses her antennae to observe the fishing line and then tries to crawl up it.
7 minutes: 8 minutes: 9 minutes: 10 minutes: 11 minutes: 12 minutes: 13 minutes: 14 minutes: 15 17 18 19 20 minutes: minutes: minutes: minutes: minutes:
25 minutes: