1

Core Practical 10
Investigation into the effect of an environmental variable on the movement of an animal
using either a choice chamber or a maze

INTRODUCTION
It is the characteristic of an animal to respond to stimulus such as temperature, sunlight, water etc. The
movement in response to the stimulus can be taxis or kinesis.1
They are simple responses which keep organisms within the favorable conditions of their environment. 2

In this experiment, we used woodlice as the subject of the investigation. When the woodlice are in an
unfavorable environment, they should change their direction and rate of movement. This allows them to
move to a more favorable environment.
In this case, we used a choice chamber instead of a maze to set up four different environments.

AIM
Investigation into responses of woodlice to light/dark and humid dry conditions in a choice chamber.

HYPOTHESIS
Most of the woodlice will move to the dark and humid chamber as they prefer damp and dark places in
natural environment.3

EQUIPMENT
Equipment Needed because
Choice Chamber To create the four environments.
(damp dark, damp light, dry dark, dry
light)
Nylon Mesh Fabric To provide a surface for the woodlice
to move on, prevent them from
drowning in water.
Water To create the damp environment.
Dark Paper To cover the two quadrant which are
required to be dark.
Tweezer Tool for putting the woodlice in the
chamber.
Spoon Tool for putting the woodlice in the
chamber.
Small Paint Brushes Tool for putting the woodlice in the
chamber.
Silica gel beads Act as a drying agent. It absorbs
moisture from the two quadrants to
keep them dry.

1
Anon, (2020). Taxis And Kinesis | What, Types, Differences, Facts & Summary. [online] Available at: https://alevelbiology.co.uk/notes/taxis-

and-kinesis/#0-taxis.
2
www.aqa.org.uk. (n.d.). Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (A-level only). [online] Available at:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402/subject-content/organisms-respond-to-changes-in-their-internal-

and-external-environments-a-level-only#:~:text=Taxes%20and%20kineses%20as%20simple [Accessed 12 Dec. 2023].

3
Woodlice fact sheet. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-10/Woodlice%20fact%20sheet.pdf.
 2

Woodlice Test subject.

Cotton wool To absorb the water.
Filter Funnel Easier to put the woodlice in the small
hole in the center of the choice
chamber. Prevent them from escaping.

METHOD
1. Set up four quadrants in a choice chamber: (Dry: Use silica beads, Dark: Cover with black paper,
Light: Do the experiment in an environment with light source, Damp: Cotton wool soaked with
water)
i. Dry + light
ii. Dry + dark
iii. Damp + light
iv. Damp + dark
2. Secure the nylon fabric between the lid of the chamber and the base of the chamber to create a
surface for the woodlice to move on.
3. Close the lid.
4. Wait for 5 minutes before adding the woodlice.
5. Use the spoon, paint brushes or tweezer to add 10 woodlice into central lid hole. Use filter funnel
to prevent the woodlice from escaping.
6. Wait for 10 minutes, allowing the woodlice to move in the chamber.
7. Take off the dark paper and record the number of woodlice in each chamber.
8. Remove all the woodlice
9. Repeat step 5-8 again.

SETUP
 3

VARIABLE
Independent: The four conditions. (dry and light/dry and dark/damp and light/damp and dark)
Dependent: The number of woodlice in each quadrant after exposing to the 4 different environments.
(dry and light/dry and dark/damp and light/damp and dark)
Controlled Variable:
Variable How will I control it Why it needs to be
controlled
Size of each quadrant in Ensure the 4 quadrants is To ensure the movement
the chamber the same size of woodlice is due to
environmental variable
rather than due to
chamber size.
The number of cotton Put equal amount of To ensure there is no
wool soaked with water cotton wool in each of variation in humidity. If
in each of the damp the damp quadrant. there is variation, it
quadrant. could affect the
comparison of
experiment results
between the two damp
quadrants. Woodlice may
prefer the area with
more humidity. We
cannot conclude if the
movement of woodlice is
due to light intensity or
not.
The number of woodlice Ensure it is the correct Allow for comparison.
put in the control number. And to conduct statistic
experiment and repeat test.
experiment
The presence of odor in the chamber is hard to control. Different chemicals may produce odor which
woodlice may be highly sensitive to and may affect their movement and results. One way to reduce the
effect of this variable is to clear the choice chamber thoroughly.

RISK ASSESSMENT
Specific Hazard Prevention Emergency Action
Woodlice may contain -Use equipment to Seek medical assistance
pathogens which could transfer the woodlice
cause infection or other -Avoid using hand
diseases. 4 -Wash your hands after
practical.
Water Spillage Be careful when handling Seek assistance.
water. Apply ice pack to the
Don’t put water near wounded area
edge of table
Silica beads may cause -Wear safety goggles. Rinse cautiously with
irritation if in contact water for several
with eye.5 minutes. Sek medical

4
CLEAPSS (2022). STUDENT SAFETY SHEETS 3rd edition 2022. [online] CLEAPSS, p.33. Available at: https://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource/All-

in-one-Student-Safety-Sheets.pdf.
5
SECTION 1: Identification of the substance/mixture and of the company/ undertaking. (n.d.). Available at:

https://www.carlroth.com/medias/SDB-4111-GB-EN.pdf?
 4

advice when symptoms

persist.

ETHICS
- During the experiment, we must ensure we do not cause permeant damage to the woodlice.
- Be careful and cautious when transferring the woodlice to the chamber. Use tools instead of using
hand.
- Release the woodlice back to their natural habitat once the experiment is finished.

RESULTS
Trial 1
Dark + Dry Dark + Damp Light + Dry Light + Damp
Number of 0 5 1 4
Woodlice

Trial 2
Dark + Dry Dark + Damp Light + Dry Light + Damp
Number of 1 1 3 5
Woodlice

Average 0.5 3 2 4.5

ANALYSE RESULTS USING STATISTIC TEST

Using Chi-Squared test, it can determine if the distribution of the woodlice were due to random chance
distribution or environmental factors.
Null Hypothesis: There is no significance difference between the observed number of woodlice and the
expected number.

Conditions o e (o-e) (o-e) ² (o-e) ²/e

Dark + Dry 0.5 2.5 -2 4 1.6
Dark + Damp 3 2.5 0.5 0.25 0.1
Light + Dry 2 2.5 -0.5 0.25 0.1
Light + Damp 4.5 2.5 2 4 1.6
3.4

Degree of freedom = 3

context=bWFzdGVyfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0c3wyMzA2OTV8YXBwbGljYXRpb24vcGRmfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0cy9oZjAvaGUzLzkw

NDcxMzY2NjU2MzAucGRmfDAyM2I4M2E5NTM2ZDRmNDg3ODVkNTg0MzhkZTlmMzJiMDc5YzU2NzAzYzI1ZGUwNjU1MDQ0MDkxZjE3N2EyZDc

.
 5

At 5% significant level, the critical value is6: 7.815

Using our calculated X² value 3.4, it is less than the critical value 7.815 for 3 degree of freedom and at
5% significance level.
There is not enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis. There is no significant difference between
the observed and expected number of woodlice.
The distribution of woodlice in the experiment is due to chance.

CONTROL EXPERIMENT
Using a chamber with nothing in the base quarters, we observe where the woodlice moved to in a set
amount of time.
Null hypothesis: There is no significant difference in the distribution of woodlice.
L/R o e (o-e) (o-e) ² (o-e) ²/e
Left 7 5 2 4 0.8
Right 3 5 -2 4 0.8
X² 1.6
Degree of freedom = 1
At 5% significant level, the critical value is: 3.841
Using our calculated X² value , it is less than the critical value 3.841 for 1 degree of freedom and at 5%
significance level. There is not enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis. There is no significant
difference in the distribution of woodlice.
The number of woodlice in left or right side of the chamber is due to chance.

CONCLUSION & EVALUATION

In the first trial, half of the number of woodlice moved from the center to the dark + damp quadrant,
the remaining 4 of the woodlice moved to light + damp quadrant and 1 of them moved to the light + dry
quadrant.
In the second trial however, most woodlice now moved to the light + damp quadrant with only 1
woodlouse observed in the dark + damp quadrant.
According to Pest Control Direct, woodlice prefer dark, moist habitat. 7 When placing woodlice from the
central lid hole, we should expect majority of the woodlice move to the dark + damp quadrant.
However, my experiment concluded that the distribution of woodlice in the experiment is due to chance
only and not due to environmental factors. There may be error in my experiment which may affect the
results of this practical.
- Although we have a dark paper covering the top of the chamber to simulate a dark environment.
There is no cover on the side, which means lights may still enter the chamber and affect the
experiment. We should use more dark paper to cover the side as well if we redo the experiment.

6
Carr, S.M. (2013). NS Table d - Chi-square. [online] Www.mun.ca. Available at: https://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/4250_Chi-

square_critical_values.html.
7
www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk. (2023). Woodlice 101: Understanding The Pest That Loves Moisture. [online] Available at:

https://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/woodlice-101-understanding-the-pest-that-loves-moisture/#:~:text=Woodlice%20prefer%20dark%2C

%20moist%20habitats.
 6

- Some woodlice may be dead right after we put them in the central lid hole as we did not observe
any movement at all from them. This may also affect the results.
- The 4 quadrants wall is not water tight. Some water from the damp quadrants leaked to the dry
quadrants which may affect woodlice decision as well.

REFERENCE

1. Anon, (2020). Taxis And Kinesis | What, Types, Differences, Facts & Summary. [online] Available at:

https://alevelbiology.co.uk/notes/taxis-and-kinesis/#0-taxis.

2. www.aqa.org.uk. (n.d.). Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (A-level only). [online] Available

at: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402/subject-content/organisms-respond-to-changes-in-

their-internal-and-external-environments-a-level-only#:~:text=Taxes%20and%20kineses%20as%20simple [Accessed 12 Dec. 2023]

3. Woodlice fact sheet. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-10/Woodlice%20fact

%20sheet.pdf.

4. CLEAPSS (2022). STUDENT SAFETY SHEETS 3rd edition 2022. [online] CLEAPSS, p.33. Available at:
https://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource/All-in-one-Student-Safety-Sheets.pdf.

5. SECTION 1: Identification of the substance/mixture and of the company/ undertaking. (n.d.). Available at:

https://www.carlroth.com/medias/SDB-4111-GB-EN.pdf?

context=bWFzdGVyfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0c3wyMzA2OTV8YXBwbGljYXRpb24vcGRmfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0cy9oZjAv

aGUzLzkwNDcxMzY2NjU2MzAucGRmfDAyM2I4M2E5NTM2ZDRmNDg3ODVkNTg0MzhkZTlmMzJiMDc5YzU2NzAzYzI1ZGUwNjU1MDQ

0MDkxZjE3N2EyZDc.

6. Carr, S.M. (2013). NS Table d - Chi-square. [online] Www.mun.ca. Available at: https://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/4250_Chi-

square_critical_values.html.

7. www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk. (2023). Woodlice 101: Understanding The Pest That Loves Moisture. [online] Available at:

https://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/woodlice-101-understanding-the-pest-that-loves-moisture/#:~:text=Woodlice%20prefer

%20dark%2C%20moist%20habitats.