Animal Behavior: Pillbugs and Their Preferences

Animal Behavior yellow journalism solicits and Their PreferencesThe organism used in this investigate is Armadillidium vulg be which is commonly called a oral contraceptivebug, sowbug, or roly-poly. The tabbug belongs to the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Crustacea, and Order Isopoda. To understand this experiment it is important to have nearly knowledge of the organism macrocosm observed. The tabletbug is an isopod. The pillbug is made up of three proboscis parts. They are the head, thorax, and abdomen. This organism has twain pairs of antennae ( matchlessness prominent and whiz inconspicuous), simple eyes, seven pairs of legs, seven separate segments on the thorax, and paired appendages at the end of the abdomen called uropods. The seeming varies from lamentable gray to white with pattern or white without pattern. Male and female pillbugs differ in that a female has leaf-like growths at the base of any(prenominal) of its legs. The purpose of these pouches is to hold developing bombard and embryos. Males differ in that the first two appendages on their abdomens are elongated copulatory organs. The immature isopod looks like an adult, bring through for its size, proportion, color, and sexual development. The pillbug is of the Order Isopoda. Isopods feed on dead or decaying plants or animals. Some isopods may eat living plants. They breathe with gills, and therefore their habitats are places of broad(prenominal) humidity. During the day, pillbugs hide in moist places, such as under stone and bark. The organism being observed reproduces on land instead of in irrigate. The eggs develop in a brood pouch filled with fluid. This organism produces between one and two broods. This depends upon the females size and condition. The female may stop developing under stress. This decreases the likelihood of reproducing more than once. The pillbug society is patriarchal. The burrow in which a pillbug family watchs is guarded by the father. Both the father and m former(a)(a) gather the food. The entire pillbug family cleans the burrow. The new-fashioned set out in February to create families of their own. Pillbugs are known for their defense mechanism of curling up into a tight ball.As for the dissemble of isopods impact on the ecosystem, there are both positive and negative effects. Isopods cause minimal soil improvement and provide a food source for other animals. Large populations of isopods can eat and cause damage to plants. The role of the pillbug in the ecosystem is breaking down dead plants and animals. Pillbugs that live in gardens help the circulation of soil, but its realistic they will eat small plants as they germinate. Overall, pillbugs have a small impact on the ecosystem.To understand this experiment it is also important to be slenderly knowledgable on ethology, the study of animal deportment. Behavior is defined as an animals response to sensory input. There are two categories that a behavior can sic ken into. They are learned and innate. The behavior that places an animal in its favorite environment is called an orientation behavior. When an animal moves toward or away from a stimulus, it has exhibited taxis. Light, heat, moisture, sound, or chemics are lots the stimuli that cause taxis. Random driveway that does not result in orientation with respect to a stimulus is known as kinesis. Another type of behavior is Agnostic behavior. This is exhibited when animals respond to one another by aggressive or submissive responses.The pH of soil varies depending on the soils condition. There are plants that grow outmatch when the soil is venomousic, and there are some plants that grow best when the soil is fundamental. Most plants, however, test the best growth in areas where the pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.2, 7 being objective. Hydrochloric acid and Sodium Hydroxide have pHs at the extremes of the pH scale. The pH of Hydrochloric acid, HCL, (0.1 M) is about 1.1. Sodium Hydroxide, K OH, (0.1 M) has a pH of about 13.5. Detritus is what isopods feed on, and it as a more acidic pH. When organic matter decays, H ions are produced. Therefore, acid is added to the soil. Generally, the acidity limit for plants is no lower than approximately 4.5 to 5.6 on the pH scale. The vapor pressure of a liquid refers to the idea that, in a closed container, evaporation will continue until equilibrium is reached. The vapor pressure of HCl and water are approximately equal (20 mmHg at room temperature, 22 C), and the vapor pressure of KOH for a 45% solution is approximately 2 mmHg.The purpose of this experiment was to use pillbugs to examine animal behaviors and habitat preferences and to determine whether this organism prefers moist or dry habitats, dark or crystalise habitats, and acidic or acetous environments With knowledge of isopods and pillbugs, it was hypothesized that the pillbugs would spend more time near the damp drool reputation because of their need for high humid ity in order to breathe. Given that pillbugs live under rocks and feed on decaying organisms, which release acid into the soil, it was also hypothesized that they would prefer the dark rather than light conditions and the acidic everywhere the caustic environment.Materials and MethodsWater pipetteFilter Paper (2 pieces)Choice houseScissors fluffy Brush10 Pill BugsStopwatchTo observe pill bugs and their preference moist versus dry conditions, a choice put up, consisting of two petri dishes connected to one another, was obtained and seamed with filter paper. Two pieces of filter paper were cut to fit the domiciliate. One was then moistened, apply a pipette, with a few drops of water. The second piece of circular filter paper was left dry. The moistened filter paper was placed at the arsehole of one chamber, chamber 1, and the dry filter paper was placed at the bottom of the other, chamber 2. Then, using a soft brush, ten pill bugs were obtained from the stock of pill bugs, and t hen placed into the chambers. Also using a soft brush, cinque pill bugs were placed in the dry chamber while the remaining five were placed in the moist chamber and the chambers were closed. This pillbug count for each chamber was then recorded for time zero acts. Using the stopwatch to grasp across time, the count of pill bugs on each grimace of the choice chamber was then recorded every 30 seconds for ten transactions, and continued even when some may no longer have been moving or were all on one side. Notes were taken on the actions and interactions of the pill bugs throughout the ten minute achievement. Once ten minutes had elapsed, the pill bugs were returned to the stock culture.Black PaperWhite Filter PaperChoice sleeping room10 Pill BugsSoft BrushScissorsStopwatchTo determine the preference of pill bugs between light and dark habitats and conditions, a choice chamber with two connecting petri dishes was lined with two different types of paper. One piece of normal fil ter paper and one piece of black paper were both cut to fit the chambers. Next, the bottom of the at bottom of one dish, chamber 1, was c everyplaceed with the unaltered, white filter paper and the other dish, chamber 2, was lined with the black paper. Then, using a soft brush, ten pill bugs were obtained from the pill bug stock culture, five of which were placed in the black-paper lined chamber and the remaining five were placed in the white paper lined chamber. The choice chamber was then closed. The initial pill bug count, 5 in each chamber was then recorded in the table. For a period of ten minutes, using a stopwatch to track time, the count of the pill bugs on each side of the choice chamber was recorded every xxx seconds. In addition, notes about the interactions of the pill bugs were taken throughout the ten minute period. The count continued to be taken, regardless of the lack of movement from the pill bugs or the concentration of all ten in one chamber. After the ten minu tes had elapsed, the pill bugs were returned to the stock culture.White Filter Paper (2 pieces)0.1 M HCl (Hydrochloric Acid)0.1 M KOH (Potassium Hydroxide)Pipettes (1 or 2)Filter Paper (3 Pieces)3 Choice Chamber10 Pill BugsScissorsStopwatchTo determine and see the preference of pill bugs in terms of base and acidic conditions, a 3-choice chamber was set up. Three pieces of filter paper were cut to fit the chambers. Using a pipette, about quadruplet drops of 0.1 M HCl were placed in a circular pattern about the paper. Another piece of filter paper was sprinkled with 0.1 M KOH in the same vogue as was done with the hydrochloric acid. The HCl and KOH were applied to the filter paper in such a way that the paper was not drenched in the chemical. One chamber, the one connected to two other chambers was lined with an unaltered piece of filter paper. One of the two remaining chambers, chamber 1, was lined at the bottom (inside bottom) with the acidic filter paper and the remaining cham ber, chamber 3, was lined at the bottom with the basic filter paper. Using a soft brush, the ten pill bugs were all removed from the stock culture and placed in chamber 2, the middle chamber consisting of the unaltered paper. The chambers were then covered and the pill bug count was recorded in the table for the initial time of 0 minutes. For the next ten minutes, the count of pill bugs in each of the three chambers was recorded every thirty minutes. The data continued to be collected even when they were no longer moving sides or were all on one side. After the ten minutes had elapsed, the ten pill bugs were returned to the stock culture.ResultsTable 1 count of Pillbugs in Wet vs. Dry house at assorted TimesTime(min.)Number in Wet ChamberNumber in Dry ChamberOther Notes055 depress moving instantly0.528Large number shifts together to one side119One more flub follows1.537Fighting between two larger isopods255Even out again2.555 drift about but come back to even one not moving364 m uch to wet chamber3.546Back to Dry Chamber455Crawling on underside of paper4.546Fighting to get from one side to another537Large pillbug still not moving5.564Other pillbugs begin throng around non-moving pillbug673Pillbugs piled on top of one another6.555Pillbug begins to move again746More to Dry Chamber7.555Back at even864Continual switch from chamber to chamber8.573Begin gathering at wet chamber991More join wet chamber9.573Crowded, a few go to dry chamber1091Return to wet chamberTable 2 Number of Pillbugs in barge vs. downcaster Colored Chambers at Various TimesTime(min.)Number in LightChamberNumber in Dark ChamberOther Notes055Begin moving instantly0.537Move to dark side128More to dark side1.528Remain, no overall movement228No overall movement2.537Begin going to white side337No overall movement3.546 miserable to lighter side428Move to dark side4.555Equalize again537Fighting to get to dark side5.555Equalize again646More to Dark side6.573Piling up to get to lighter side773No ove rall movement7.582More in lighter side891More in lighter side8.573Move to dark side955Equalize again9.537Move to darker side1046Young follows adult to other sideTable 3 Number of Pillbugs in electroneutral, acerb and canonic Chambers at Various TimesTime(min.)Number in Neutral Chamber (Control)Number in Acidic ChamberNumber in Basic ChamberOther Notes01000 agile Movement0.5253Move to acidic1352Stay around outside of chamber1.5622Quickly out of acidic and into neutral area2433More to basic area2.5523Away from acidic area3235More slowly moving to basic area3.5217Movement to basic chamber4406Pillbugs all out of Acidic area4.5118Most in Basic area5145Some return to acidic chamber5.5316Slowly moving out of Acidic chamber and into neutral and basic chambers6415Out of basic and into neutral6.5316Back into basic area, around outside of filter paper7316No overall movement7.5406All gone from acidic area8307More to basic area8.5406Small shift9307Reverse of shift9.5208More to basic area more slowly than before test10109More to basic area grade 1 Fluctuation in Number of Pillbugs in Wet and Dry Chambers effigy 2 Fluctuation in Number of Pillbugs in Lighter and Darker Colored ChambersFigure 3 Fluctuation in Number of Pillbugs in Acidic, Neutral and Basic ChambersDiscussionTable 4 number Number of Pillbugs in Wet vs. in Dry ChambersTime(min.)Number in Wet ChamberNumber in Dry Chamber just of Pill Bugs in WetAverage of Pill Bugs in Dry0550.5281191.5372552.5553643.5464554.5465375.5646736.5557467.5558648.5739919.5731091Total of Pill bugs1081025.1434.857Table 5 Average Number of Pillbugs in Lighter vs. Darker-Colored ChambersTime(min.)Number in LightChamberNumber in Dark ChamberAverage of Pill Bugs in White (Light)Average of Pill Bugs in Dark0550.5371281.5282282.5373373.5464284.5555375.5556466.5737737.5828918.5739559.5371046Total of Pill Bugs931174.4295.571Table 6 Average Number of Pillbugs in Neutral, Acidic and Basic ChambersTime(min.)Number in NeutralChamberNumber in Acidic ChamberNumber in Basic ChamberAverage of Pill Bugs in Neutral ChamberAverage of Pill Bugs in Acidic ChamberAverage of Pill Bugs in Basic Chamber010000.525313521.562224332.552332353.521744064.511851455.531664156.531673167.540683078.540693079.520810109Total of Pill Bugs70301103.331.4295.238Figure 4 Comparison of Average Number of Pillbugs in Wet Chamber vs. in Dry ChamberFigure 5 Comparison of Average Number of Pillbugs in Lighter-colored and Dark-colored PaperFigure 6 Comparison of Average Number of Pillbugs in Acidic, Neutral and Basic ChambersIt was hypothesized that the pillbugs, given that they possess gills for respiration, and that they live where there is not a lot of light (under rocks and logs), they would prefer the damp chamber over the dry chamber and the dark chamber over the light chamber. Knowing that pillbugs feed off of decaying organic material, and the process of decay increases the soil acidity, it was hypothesized that the pillbugs would prefer the acidic chamber (the one with HCl), over the caustic (with KOH) and neutral chambers. The data collected supports the hypothesis. The mean number of pill bugs in each chamber was calculated by totaling the pillbug count for all blackjack times in one chamber and then doing the same for the next chamber and then dividing the two totals by the total number of pillbugs counted. This number was 210 in each case. As evidenced by Table 4 and Figure 4, the mean number of pillbugs in the damp chamber over ten minutes was approximately 5.143, and the mean number of pillbugs in the dry chamber over ten minutes was approximately 4.857. The higher average of the damp chamber over the dry chamber shows taxis toward the stimulus (moisture).The data collected also supported the second part of what was hypothesized. The mean number of pillbugs in the chamber with light paper was about 4.429. Table 5 and Figure 5 show the mean number of pillbugs in the dark chamber to be about 5.571. The results and the known habitats of pillbugs are consistent with one another.The data collected in part three of the experiment did not support what was hypothesized. Table 6 and Figure 6 show that the basic environment (one with drops of KOH) was actually preferred over a neutral environment and the acidic environment (one with drops of HCl) by the pillbugs. The mean number of pillbugs in the neutral environment was about 3.33, for the acidic environment the mean was about 1.429 and for the caustic environment the mean was about 5.238. Its possible the explanation for these results is the vapor pressure of the Hydrochloric acid being higher than that of the Sodium Hydroxide. Irritation caused by HCL vaporizing quickly and getting into the pillbugs gills would explain the lack of time spent in the chamber with the HCl on the filter paper. The lack of moisture on the plain filter paper could explain the lack of time spent in the neutral chamber. The pillbugs antennae would sense any chemical or s omething like it, and they would be attracted to that chamber. Agnostic behavior was exhibited by the pillbugs inside the choice chambers. Fighting between the pillbugs represents agnostic behavior. The results of the experiment would not be touch on by errors in counting or other human errors.The data collected from the experiment supported two thirds of what was hypothesized. The pillbugs preferences for dark and damp environments over light and dry environments were supported by the results. However, the results suggest that pillbugs preference is for the more caustic environments over the environments that are neutral or acidic.Citations1. Brown, Courtney Jane. ADW Armadillidium Vulgare Information. Animal Diversity Web. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .2. Lab 11 Animal Behavior (College Board, 2001) AP Biology Lab Manual for Students (2001) New Jersey College Board. p. 125-131.3. Isopod, Pillbug, Sow Bug Information. UA Center for Insect Science grooming Outreach. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .4. Soil PH and Soil Acidity or Alkalinity. Landscaping and Lawns by Donnan Landscape. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .5. HYDROCHLORIC ACID (LESS THAN 10%). New Mallinckrodt Baker Website. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .6. What Is Acidic Soil? Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .7. Vapor Pressure. Test Page for Apache Installation. Web. 24 Mar. 2011..8. The MSDS HyperGlossary Vapor Pressure. Transferring You to the ILPI Home Page Web. 24 Mar. 2011. .