Does a Change in Temperature Affect the Rate of Movement in Woodlice
The affect of temperature on the rate of movement of woodlice
Aim: The aim of this experiment is to establish whether a change in temperature affects the rate in which woodlouse move. I measured the rate by timing the woodlouse to move a set distance of 20cm, and altered the surrounding temperature by submerging a clear tube in water with different temperatures controlled by a water bath.
Research: It is to be believed there over 3000 different species of woodlice, a total of 42 species have been recorded living in the United Kingdom, although not all of them are native (1). Woodlouse is a crustacean, which fit into the class of arthropods, crustaceans are primarily aquatic animals. It is for this reason that woodlice become dehydrated in dry conditions, and their outer shells aren’t waterproof (1). Therefore damp environments are preferable for woodlouse to survive.
The structure of woodlice are similar to all arthropods, the body is split up into segments, with an exoskeleton and jointed limbs. Firstly, the head and next the pereon (thorax), the third is the pleon (abdomen). Also, woodlice are often described to have a structure shown in figure 1. Porcellio scaber contain two pairs of antennae although second pair is extremely small in size and well hidden, and two compound eyes (consist of thousands of individual photoreceptor units or ommatidia) (2).
Male woodlice have genital projections whereas females just have a pouch which contains eggs, positioned at the bottom of the abdomen. Figure 2 shows an example of the ventral (lower) structure of a male Porcellio scaber. As you can see the lungs are situated in the first pleopod, gases are able to diffuse in and out from the lungs through miniscule pores (2). These pores are unable to close, therefore it is common for woodlice to become desiccated.
Woodlice show kinesis behaviour, in which their movement is in response to a stimulus. The movement they show is non-directional and either
Aim: The aim of this experiment is to establish whether a change in temperature affects the rate in which woodlouse move. I measured the rate by timing the woodlouse to move a set distance of 20cm, and altered the surrounding temperature by submerging a clear tube in water with different temperatures controlled by a water bath.
Research: It is to be believed there over 3000 different species of woodlice, a total of 42 species have been recorded living in the United Kingdom, although not all of them are native (1). Woodlouse is a crustacean, which fit into the class of arthropods, crustaceans are primarily aquatic animals. It is for this reason that woodlice become dehydrated in dry conditions, and their outer shells aren’t waterproof (1). Therefore damp environments are preferable for woodlouse to survive.
The structure of woodlice are similar to all arthropods, the body is split up into segments, with an exoskeleton and jointed limbs. Firstly, the head and next the pereon (thorax), the third is the pleon (abdomen). Also, woodlice are often described to have a structure shown in figure 1. Porcellio scaber contain two pairs of antennae although second pair is extremely small in size and well hidden, and two compound eyes (consist of thousands of individual photoreceptor units or ommatidia) (2).
Male woodlice have genital projections whereas females just have a pouch which contains eggs, positioned at the bottom of the abdomen. Figure 2 shows an example of the ventral (lower) structure of a male Porcellio scaber. As you can see the lungs are situated in the first pleopod, gases are able to diffuse in and out from the lungs through miniscule pores (2). These pores are unable to close, therefore it is common for woodlice to become desiccated.
Woodlice show kinesis behaviour, in which their movement is in response to a stimulus. The movement they show is non-directional and either