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.

What should the ethical considerations be when using woodlice in this investigation?

Ethical issues Although they are simple organisms which may not ‘suffer’ in the same way as higher animals, they still deserve respect. Animals should be returned promptly to their natural environment or a suitable holding tank after being tested in the maze.

Which conditions do woodlice prefer?

Woodlice thrive in dark, damp, cooler conditions, typically under logs and concrete slabs where the sun cannot reach directly. This preference is mainly due to their inefficient water-storage system. If exposed to heat or light for too long, woodlice can die due to the dramatic loss of water.

What are the results of the woodlice experiment?

The results are quite clear; the majority of the sample woodlice chose to reside in the damp area of the choice chamber in both experiment one and experiment two. The control experiment showed that the woodlice preference was purely based on the variables of the experiment.

How are woodlice used in a choice chamber?

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 to adjust light intensity in woodlice lab?

Adjust the light intensity control knob to 0 and start the timer for 2 minutes of adjustment time. After the two minutes of adjustment time is completed, start the timer for 1 minute and begin counting the amount of squares the Porcellio scaber while observing its behavior, which is needed in order to note-down for the qualitative data.

How to measure the position of a woodlice?

Method 1: Place a piece of acetate on top of the choice chamber and trace the path the woodlouse takes, marking its position every 30 seconds. Method 2: Place graph paper beside the choice chamber and estimate the woodlouse’s position every 30 seconds, joining the dots to show the woodlouse’s track in the choice chamber. 4 Analyse the results.