Animal Behavior Lab

Carey HortonAug. 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 A: Pill Bugs

The pill bugs were crawling over each other, forming groups, and were interacting extremely well (see Table 1: Behaviors and Table 2: Interactions). For the experimental part, phototaxis was tested on the pill bugs to see how many would go towards and away from the light (see bar graph and Table 3: Testing Phototaxis).

When the pill bugs were in the container, they didn’t really move or do anything. Then, when they were moved to the animal behavior trays, they interacted more with each other because of the environmental change. During the test of phototaxis, more pill bugs went away from the light because they had been in the dark room for so long and weren’t used to the sudden change.

To make the lab better, pill bugs probably shouldn’t be used. Instead, there should be a larger or stronger bug because pill bugs are too small and can easily be killed when in between someone’s fingers.

During this lab, some errors might include touching and moving the behavior trays disrupting the interaction process, and they weren’t in their normal environment, a dark and damp area, like they’re used to.

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 wasn’t familiar with this object. It had been in an empty container and this was something it didn’t 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 weren’t 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: - 3 pill bugs in a huddle2 minutes: - 4 pill bugs in a huddle

- 2 on top of each other- 1 on its back

3 minutes: - 3 pill bugs on top of each other

- 1 crawling over 2- 1 smaller pill bug on top of another

4 minutes: - 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

5 minutes: - 4 pill bugs on top of each other- 2 pill bugs on top of each other

6 minutes: - 1 pill bug crawled on top of another

7 minutes: - 2 groups of 3 formed-1 pill bug from one group moved to another group

8 minutes: - 1 pill bug joined a group of 3- another one joined that group to make it a group of 4

9 minutes: - 3 pill bugs kept to themselves- 2 pill bugs helped another off of its back

10 minutes: - group of 5 formed

Table 2: Interactions

A B1 minute: 5 22 minutes: 5 23 minutes: 5 34 minutes: 7 25 minutes: 7 26 minutes: 7 27 minutes: 6 38 minutes: 6 49 minutes: 5 510 minutes: 5 5

Table 3: Testing Phototaxis

Positive Phototaxis Negative Phototaxis2 minutes: 1 94 minutes: 2 86 minutes: 3 78 minutes: 2 810 minutes: 2 8

Table 4: General population of crickets

1 minute: - one on top of another-two more on top of each other

2 minutes: - one on top of another- all moving at fast pace- 2 had antennas intertwined- group of 3 formed

3 minutes: - one on top of another- one walking on top of them all

4 minutes: - making groups, observing each other- one crawling on top of another- another cricket crawling on top of another

5 minutes: - 2 groups of 2 crickets on top of each other - some bumping each other- some not really moving

6 minutes: - all sitting still; looks as though they’re cleaning themselves

7 minutes: - looks like some are shedding and still “cleaning”

8 minutes: - group formed- one on top of another

9 minutes: - one on top of another - trying to get out

10 minutes: - 2 groups of 2 crickets on top of each other

Table 5: Using a fishing line to stroke

Stroking its antennae Stroking its abdomenShe uses her antennae to observe the fishing line and then tries to crawl up it.

She used her back leg to get it off and away.

Table 6: Observation of 3 male crickets

2 minutes: - 1 cricket used antennae to observe dome

3 minutes: - 1 cricket crawled on top of dome4 minutes: - 1 cricket inside a dome5 minutes: - they begin chirping6 minutes: - 1 cricket on one dome, 1 cricket

on top of the other dome- 1 cricket inside a dome

7 minutes: - 1 crawled out of a dome- 2 in one dome

8 minutes: - 1 cricket walking around container at fast pace- 1 on top of dome then fell off

9 minutes: - 1 sitting in a dome10 minutes: - 1 cricket still sitting in

dome( appears to be cleaning)11 minutes: - no crickets in domes

-1 crawled on top of a dome then traveled to the other dome

12 minutes: - 1 cricket chirps13 minutes: - another chirped; none in domes14 minutes: - 2 crickets chirping at each other

- one traveling from dome to dome

15 minutes: - 1 still crawling over domes17 minutes: - 2 chirping18 minutes: - 1 in a dome19 minutes: - 2 chirping; one jumped off dome20 minutes: - 1 crawling under a dome

- 1 on top of dome21 minutes: - 1 begins chirping then another

joins in and they chirp at each other

22 minutes: - 1 still in dome23 minutes: - 1 traveling from dome to dome

- 1 crawling over another cricket

24 minutes: - 1 still traveling25 minutes: - 1 cricket observing a dome