Environmental Needs of Land Isopods

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Environmental Needs of Land Isopods

• 9/12/06

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Background

• Terrestrial Isopods are land dwelling
  crustaceans, commonly know as sowbugs, pillbugs
  or rollypollys. They are related to lobsters,
  crabs and shrimp. Terrestrial isopods breathe
  with gills.

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• While they look similar sowbugs are different
  from pillbugs. Pillbugs will curl into a ball
  when threatened whereas sow bugs will attempt to
  flee. Since your isopods are caught from the
  wild, make sure you are using the same type for
  your experiments.

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• Ethology is the study of animal behavior. Many
  behaviors involve the movement of the animal
  within its environment. In this exercise, you
  will investigate some innate (instincts)
  behaviors of isopods.

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• Orientation is a process by which animals
  position themselves with respect to the features
  of their environments. Taxis involves the
  turning of an animals body relative to a
  stimulus either toward or away.

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• Kinesis is a random turning or movement of an
  animal in relation to a stimulus. In this
  investigation, the RolleyPollies will be given
  environmental choices.

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Problem

• What environmental conditions do land isopods
  need?

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Hypothesis

• I think

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Procedure

• Part A testing for moisture preference
• 10 isopods
• 5 minutes
• Three trials
• Part B testing for light-dark preference
• 10 isopods
• 5 minutes
• Three trials

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Data

• Trial Moist Dry
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Total

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Analysis and Conclusion

• Write a statement
• Does the data support your hypothesis?
• What does the data show?
• What could you do to further your understanding
  of terrestrial isopods?