What is the response that the woodlice made?
Woodlice do move more quickly in dry conditions, and more slowly in damp. This is the reflex response that results in their accumulation in damp areas.
How do woodlice respond to stimuli?
If you use a lamp to establish a light/ dark gradient, the woodlice may in fact be responding to the heat of the lamp. A directional response to stimuli is called a ‘taxis’ (for example phototaxis, or a phototactic response).
What conditions do woodlice prefer and why?
Crustaceans breathe using gills. In woodlice, these are found on the legs. For the gills to work effectively, they must be kept moist which is why woodlice prefer a damp habitat! Woodlice also feed on rotting vegetation which is also most likely to be found in damp places.
What is a choice chamber experiment?
Choice chambers are an investigative method used to study animal behaviour and to determine the favoured conditions for a habitat. It is a very simple investigation to set up and one that kids loves at it involves searching for insects, and then predicting and watching.
How does kinesis occur in woodlice?
In kinesis, an organism changes its movement in a non-directional way—e.g., speeding up or slowing down—in response to a cue. For example, woodlice move faster in response to temperatures that are higher or lower than their preferred range.
Why do woodlice prefer light leaves?
Because woodlice have very simple eyesight, Nora thought that maybe they use dark and light colors to decide where to go. They might choose to move towards darker colors and away from lighter colors to prevent ending up above ground where predators can easily find them.
How does light affect woodlice?
Woodlice have a negative photokinesis- they move faster as the light stimulus increases. This has great survival value because bright places tend to be drier and dark places tend to be damper.
Which would a woodlice prefer?
What type of environment do woodlice prefer?
While most crustaceans live in water, woodlice live on land but breathe through gills like fish. Their gills need to be covered with a thin layer of water to work well, so they prefer to live in places with a lot of moisture. These creatures are found in cool, damp areas, such as under fallen leaves in flowerbeds.
What is a choice chamber and what is it used for?
choice chamber A device that offers small invertebrates two or more contrasting environments (e.g. differing in humidity, temperature, illumination, or pH) and allows them to move freely into the one they prefer.
How many sides does a choice chamber have?
This unique 2-chambered, molded plastic system is perfect for studying the response of organisms, such as sow bugs or ants, to various environments.
What is a positive taxis?
A positive taxis is one in which the organism or a cell moves towards the source of stimulation (attraction). A negative taxis is when the organism or a cell moves away from the source of stimulation (repulsion).
How many woodlice were introduced to the choice chamber?
Using the divided areas of the choice chamber, half the chamber was filled with damp kitchen roll and the other half with dry kitchen roll. The gauze was then placed on top of the kitchen roll and finally the lid was put on the top. The 10 woodlice were subsequently introduced to the middle of the choice chamber.
Do woodlice show preference for damp or dry conditions?
Woodlice that have been kept in very moist conditions may be under no water stress, and may not show clear preference for damp over dry conditions in a choice chamber. Keep the woodlice to be used for the investigation in drier conditions for the 24 hours immediately beforehand.
How do you introduce woodlice to a new area?
The woodlice will be introduced into choice chambers which are half damp and half dry and allocated a period of time before counting how many have settled in each area. The damp area will be made damp via tap water as woodlice are sensitive to pH (Souty-Grosset et al, 2005).
How do you record positions of tribolium and woodlice?
Record the final positions of 10 Tribolium or woodlice after 10 minutes in a choice chamber covered to exclude light and with no humidity gradient. Rotate the upper part containing the animals through 180° and leave for 10 minutes before recording positions again. Collate class results to make a statistical analysis.