Identifying Your Organism:
Hermit Crabs- Coenobita brerimanus
Three features indicating that this is a living thing:
1. The hermit crabs crawl around in their aquarium
2. The hermit crabs eat their food
3. The hermit crabs respond to changes in their environment
The Hypothesis:
Hermit crabs prefer shade to sunlight
Data Sheet:
Hermit Crab Light Shade Behavior
HC #1 X Immediately crawled back in to shade when placed in sunlight.
HC #2 X Did not come out of shell
HC #3 X Wandered around sunlight before returning to the shade
HC # 4 X Immediately crawled back in to shade after being placed in sunlight
HC #1 X Did not come out of shell
HC #2 X Did not come out of shell
HC #3 X Crawled around in the shade stopping where the light began
HC # 4 X Immediately crawled back in to shade after being placed in sunlight
The reason that it is better to repeat the investigation several times is due to the different variables that come up during the experiment especially when dealing with multiple organisms.
The results of the experiment supported my hypothesis and were very similar to those of my other classmate who used hermit crabs.
Part II Own Experiment
Hypothesis:
Hermit crabs prefer a warmer climate over a cooler climate.
Experiment Description:
I will subject each hermit crab to a cold environment first and then a warm environment. I will test the cold environment by placing a box in the freezer for 10 minutes and then placing a crab in the box to observe their actions to the cooler environment. I will have 4 boxes for each of the 4 crabs. After conducting the cooler environment experiment I will place the 4 crabs in 4 separate boxes that are at room temperature. Meanwhile I will blow hot air over the top of the boxes making sure to hold the hair dryer used to create the warm environment at a couple feet away so that I don’t kill the crabs. I will observe the crab’s actions in the warm environment and