Lab Report
Observing and Analyzing the Behaviors of Daphnia, Pill Bugs, Amoeba and Uglena Under Certain Experimental Conditions Testing Reactions to Gravity, Light and Food
Jacob Kluth and Kelsey Jankowski
Introduction
This lab has introduced the use of daphnia, pill bugs, amoeba and Uglena. We the AP Biology students were first introduced to the test subjects to test his or her capability of handling living organisms for upcoming science experiments. The AP Biology students were asked to create original experiments for all test subjects testing reactions to gravity, light intensity and reaction to food. Daphnia, or Daphnia magna, are microscopic organisms in which the students created an original lab to test the reactions. These organisms come from the group daphniiade, which is also a part of the Cladocera, a group related to freshwater shrimp. Daphnia acquired is common name due to the erratic movements. Daphnia are small crustaceans that are also daphnids. These water fleas (as they are commonly referred as) closely resemble household fleas. Being arthropods, both share ancestry. Daphnids collect particles floating in water such as phytoplankton, vegetation and decaying organic material. These creatures reproduce by parthenogenicty or asexually. The offspring are identical to the parents and any difference in physical status is created from environmental conditions. Parthenogenesis appears to have evolved to let daphnids to obtain more food and temperature. Daphnia develop embryos that are often visible in the female’s body without the assistance of a microscope. These females can start reproducing as early as four days old and in intervals as often as tree days. This means that female daphnia can reproduce up to twenty-five times during her lifetime, though usually the number of offspring is far fewer. Daphnids have three main body parts, like most insects, the head, the thorax and the abdomen. In the head there is the brain, intestine, digestive caecum,
Jacob Kluth and Kelsey Jankowski
Introduction
This lab has introduced the use of daphnia, pill bugs, amoeba and Uglena. We the AP Biology students were first introduced to the test subjects to test his or her capability of handling living organisms for upcoming science experiments. The AP Biology students were asked to create original experiments for all test subjects testing reactions to gravity, light intensity and reaction to food. Daphnia, or Daphnia magna, are microscopic organisms in which the students created an original lab to test the reactions. These organisms come from the group daphniiade, which is also a part of the Cladocera, a group related to freshwater shrimp. Daphnia acquired is common name due to the erratic movements. Daphnia are small crustaceans that are also daphnids. These water fleas (as they are commonly referred as) closely resemble household fleas. Being arthropods, both share ancestry. Daphnids collect particles floating in water such as phytoplankton, vegetation and decaying organic material. These creatures reproduce by parthenogenicty or asexually. The offspring are identical to the parents and any difference in physical status is created from environmental conditions. Parthenogenesis appears to have evolved to let daphnids to obtain more food and temperature. Daphnia develop embryos that are often visible in the female’s body without the assistance of a microscope. These females can start reproducing as early as four days old and in intervals as often as tree days. This means that female daphnia can reproduce up to twenty-five times during her lifetime, though usually the number of offspring is far fewer. Daphnids have three main body parts, like most insects, the head, the thorax and the abdomen. In the head there is the brain, intestine, digestive caecum,
References: 1. B.M. Daphnia Information. 2008, April. http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/SOAR/sciproj2001/MelissaB.html. March 7, 2009. 2. BIO 114. 2006. http://bioweb.wku.edu/courses/Bio114/Behavior/Pill_bug.asp. March 7, 2009. 3. Daphnia. Clare, J. Ph. D. 1998. http://www.caudata.org/saphnia/#anatomy. March 7, 2009. 4. Gravity Tests. 2005. http://www.simpleexperments.edu/experments_on_gravity.htm. March 7, 2009. 5. Information on Amoeba. 2002. http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/science/mcamoeba.asp. March 7, 2009. 6. Information on Euglena. 2000. http://staff.jccc.net/pdecell/protista/euglena.html. March 7, 2009. 7. Light Reaction Tests. 1997. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2647909. March 7, 2009. 8. Mazes and Food Reaction. 2007. http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/reprint/79/324/189.pdf. March 7, 2009. 9. Sharks Feeding Habits. 2008. http://www.marinebiodiversity.ca/shark/english/feeding.htm. March 7, 2009. 10. Sow Bug, Pill Bug, and Isopod Information. http://insected/arizona.edu/isoinfo.htm. March 7, 2009.