Tes Cherian

Alex, Anthony, and Zach

BIOL 1110L 40916

Fall 2016

Movement of Sowbugs in Relation to Moisture in Soil

Introduction

In the observational study there were four contrasting variables: hot, illuminated, dry

sand and wet, dark, cool soil. An observation that was made was the movement of the sowbugs

between the two different earth types over the course of three separate trials. Overall, it seemed

that the sowbugs preferred the wet, cool soil over the hot, dry sand. A majority of the sowbugs

observed spent a majority of their time in the observational chamber in the soil rather than the

sand. Using this observational information, the question of whether they would prefer dry soil or

wet soil formed. Narrowing this question down, the hypothesis created for the experiment stated

that the sowbugs would enjoy the soil with more moisture better.

Materials and Methods

To test the hypothesis, an experiment chamber that consisted of a plastic bin, a divider,

sowbugs, and the two types of soil was set up. Each type of soil took its own half of the chamber.

In our experiment, the independent variable was the moisture in the soil and the dependent

variable was the sowbugs’ movement within the experiment chamber. Some of the controlled

variables were the light on the sowbugs, the absence of heat, and the texture of the soil (as in not

two different types of earth).

 Beginning the experiment, each member of the group placed a sowbug into the test

chamber with all four placed in random areas. From that moment, the movement of the sowbugs

were recorded at the top of every minute in a five minute period on a diagram of the

experimental chamber. These two steps need to be repeated three times to ensure the experiment

is repeatable and that the results are not skewed.

Results

Table 1. Sowbug Movement

Minutes spent on wet soil Minutes spent on dry soil

Sowbug Trial 1 18 2

Sowbug Trial 2 6 14

Sowbug Trial 3 9:30 10:30

Percent sowbug minutes 55.8% 44.2%

Discussion and Conclusion

As seen in the table, while there is not an overwhelming majority towards one choice,

there is a majority. 55.8% of the time, sowbugs were positioned in the wet soil while the

sowbugs were in the dry soil only 44.2% of the time. Typically it seemed as if the sowbugs

varied in their behavior, but the data clearly states that the sowbugs more frequently moved

towards/in the wet soil. The data proves the hypothesis formulated earlier true. Sowbugs do tend

to choose wet soil over dry soil.

One way to improve this experiment is to repeat the trials four times and putting all the

sowbugs on one side, alternating every other trial. This way it will be easier to tell if the sowbugs

actually enjoy the side they were placed on or if they were just too lazy to move. Another way to
improve is to place the sowbugs in the exact middle of the chamber, at the border between the

two sides. Then the sowbugs will have an immediate taste of both sides and can choose. These

small improvements can make the experiment less biased and less up to chance.

An opportunity for further research involving sowbugs include conducting experiments to

see whether the sowbugs would adapt to the hot, dry, heavily illuminated sand over a certain

period of time. Another experiment for further research could be to transfer the sowbugs from

one type of soil to another after a certain amount of time and observe their behavior.