Porcellio Scaber Temperature Lab Report
The objective of our experiment was to determine the effect of temperature on the rate of movement of Porcellio scaber.
Our prediction was that P. scaber would have faster rates of movement in hotter temperatures. We expected this response as P. scaber is an ectotherm. Hence, its body temperature is directly determined by the temperature of its environment (Mellanby 1939). Løkke and van Gestel (1998) stated that the rate of the metabolism is controlled by the environmental temperature for ectotherms. As seen by Wieser, cited in Wang and Schreiber (1999), P. scaber’s metabolism increased with higher temperatures. An increased metabolism results in more adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production (Stevens et al. 2010). Stevens et. al (2010) explained …show more content…
After we established the right temperatures in each waterbath, the temperatures would start to decrease or increase. By the end of one replicate, the temperature of the bath changed by a few degrees. In P. scaber’s natural environment, temperature would not be changing at this rate. The temperature would remain fairly consistent with very little or no change in a few minutes or even hours. As such, we are unable to extrapolate our findings as in P. scaber’s natural environment, it would be experiencing a constant temperature, unlike in our experiment. If we were able to repeat the experiment, we would use temperature chambers instead of waterbaths, as they provide consistent temperatures throughout the experiment.
Moreover, variation in temperature in P. scaber’s natural environment may have implications to its health and survival. As seen by McGavin, cited in Riggio (2013), P. scaber lives in temperate environments, so it experiences hot and cold temperatures, but not to extremes. Bayley (1995) explained that movement allows P. scaber to acquire food, migrate, and escape from predators, which are all necessary for its
Our prediction was that P. scaber would have faster rates of movement in hotter temperatures. We expected this response as P. scaber is an ectotherm. Hence, its body temperature is directly determined by the temperature of its environment (Mellanby 1939). Løkke and van Gestel (1998) stated that the rate of the metabolism is controlled by the environmental temperature for ectotherms. As seen by Wieser, cited in Wang and Schreiber (1999), P. scaber’s metabolism increased with higher temperatures. An increased metabolism results in more adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production (Stevens et al. 2010). Stevens et. al (2010) explained …show more content…
After we established the right temperatures in each waterbath, the temperatures would start to decrease or increase. By the end of one replicate, the temperature of the bath changed by a few degrees. In P. scaber’s natural environment, temperature would not be changing at this rate. The temperature would remain fairly consistent with very little or no change in a few minutes or even hours. As such, we are unable to extrapolate our findings as in P. scaber’s natural environment, it would be experiencing a constant temperature, unlike in our experiment. If we were able to repeat the experiment, we would use temperature chambers instead of waterbaths, as they provide consistent temperatures throughout the experiment.
Moreover, variation in temperature in P. scaber’s natural environment may have implications to its health and survival. As seen by McGavin, cited in Riggio (2013), P. scaber lives in temperate environments, so it experiences hot and cold temperatures, but not to extremes. Bayley (1995) explained that movement allows P. scaber to acquire food, migrate, and escape from predators, which are all necessary for its