A student wanted to test the following hypothesis: \'Housefly larvae (maggots) r
ID: 8107 • Letter: A
Question
A student wanted to test the following hypothesis: 'Housefly larvae (maggots) respond negatively to light'.
a)Do the results of this investigation support the student's hypothesis? Give a reason for your answer.
b)Name two factors other than light that could have influenced the larvae's response.
c) Describe how the apparatus shown in above could be modified to investigate one of the factors named in b).
d)Explain how the response shown by the larvae in this experiment could help them to survive in their natural environment.
I have the general knowledge but I need to be able to give proper & accurate answers. Thanks.
Explanation / Answer
a) The results of the experiment support the given hypothesis that larvae respond negatively to light. In each trial, there were a greater number of larvae on the dark side than on the light side. Also, the total number of larvae on the dark side, after all three trials had been conducted, was double the number of larvae on the light side. Both previous sets of data support the student’s hypothesis. b) Decreased Mobility due to Overcrowding: Twenty larvae in one Petri dish does not allow for ample amount of space to move around in. Even if the light was affecting the larvae’s location, it would be difficult for the larvae to switch locations due to its crowded environment. b) Decreased Mobility due to Allotted Time: The amount of time given for each trial was not stated. If this time was only a couple of minutes, then the larvae may not have had enough time to traverse to their desired environment, whether that be in light or dark. c) Decreasing the number of larvae in the Petri dish per trial would allow for better mobility and prevent overcrowding. To increase the accuracy of the experiment with the reduced number of larvae, more trials could be done. d) In a natural environment, larvae are small, defenseless animals that are prone to being eaten by predators. A negative response to light would also mean a negative response to daytime. It could be possible that daytime is when most of the larvae’s predators come out. Therefore, being active only at night could be a defense mechanism.
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