Essay on Pill Bug Behavior Lab Results

Submitted By dawkins777
Words: 880
Pages: 4

Pill Bug Behavior Lab Results
Table 1 Damp vs Dry Environment
Time
(mins)
Number of Pill Bugs in Damp Side
Number of Pill Bugs in Dry Side
Observations
1
2
4
All moved to one side, then to the other
2
2
7
Climbing on top of one another
3
1
8
Some not moving; five in one pile along the edge of the dry side
4
0
10
All moved to side B, then less movement
5
1
9
Little movement then became more active
6
1
9
Still mainly on dry side
7
4
4
Many moving slower; evenly distributed
8
7
2
Separated out, less grouping, most on damp side
9
7
3
Slower moving
10
6
4
Large groups sitting with no movement
Average
3.1
6.0

Test for Significance
X2 = ∑ (observed – expected) 2 /expected

Damp Environment Dry Environment
X2 = ∑ (observed – expected) 2 /expected X2 = ∑ (observed – expected) 2/ expected = (3.1 – 4.55) 2 / 4.55 = (6.0 – 4.55) 2 / 4.55 = 2.1025 / 4.55 = 2.1025 / 4.55 = 0.4620 = 0.4620

Questions:
1. What is your hypothesis for the experiment? What is your null hypothesis?
My hypothesis for this experiment is, more pill bugs will be accumulated of the damp side of the petri-dish for the majority of the time. My null hypothesis states that more pill bugs will be accumulated on the dry side on the petri-dish as the moist, damp environment has no effect on them.
2. What is your x2 value? Is it significant?
My x2 for this experiment was calculated to be 0.924. Using the Chi-Square distribution chart, the value was determined to be non-significant.
3. Was your hypothesis supported or rejected?
Based on the results of the experiment and the x2 value obtained, my hypothesis was rejected. The null hypothesis was accepted.
4. How is this adaptive for pill bugs?
The results of this experiment indicates that pill bugs have the ability to live on both land and water. Although majority of the pill bugs chose to occupy the dry side of the petri-dish; over time some occupied the damp side of the petri-dish, and as time went along, more and more pill bugs began to occupy the damp side of the petri-dish.

Table 2: Dark vs Light Environment
Time
(mins)
Number of Pill Bugs in Dark Side
Number of Pill Bugs in Light Side
Observations
1
0
8
Some backed away when they sensed the water
2
0
7
More mobile on side with light
3
2
7
Ones on light side not as active; not moving much
4
0
10
Less movement; not very active; all on light side
5
0
9
Little movement on light side
6
0
10
Sitting against wall in groups on light side
7
0
8
Not very active on light side
8
0
10
Most not moving on light side, all on light side
9
1
7
Only one active
10
3
7
Barely any movement
Average
0.6
8.3

Test for Significance
X2 = ∑ (observed – expected) 2 /expected

Dark Environment Light Environment
X2 = ∑ (observed – expected) 2 /expected X2 = ∑ (observed – expected) 2/ expected = (0.6 – 4.45) 2 / 4.45 = (8.3 – 4.45) 2 / 4.45 = 14.82 / 4.45 = 14.82 / 4.45 = 0.3303 = 0.3303
Questions:
1. What is your hypothesis for this experiment? What is your null hypothesis?
My hypothesis for this experiment is more pill bugs will be accumulated of the dark side of the petri-dish for the majority of the time. My