Required Practical 10 - Movement of Maggots

Question 1

Suggest why you were told to wipe the inside of the maze between trails

Answer 1

• remove any substances/ scent left by the maggots

- ensure maggot behaviour is not affected

Question 2

Describe how you might use a lamp to minimise the effect of changes in light intensity

Answer 2

• light placed above so non-directional

- uniform light intensity so maggots do not have directional response

Question 3

Describe how you would determine if there were temperature changes that could have affected the behaviour of maggots

Answer 3

• measure temperature during each trial

- determine if there were any changes

Question 4

Describe ways in which maggots should be similar

Answer 4

• same age
• same breed/species
• same size

Question 5

Suggest how to determine what sample size to use in your investigation

Answer 5

• large enough to calculate a statistical test
• small enough to complete in sufficient time
• large enough so sample is representative

Question 6

Suggest why maggots are not used more than one in investigation

Answer 6

• reduce stress for ethical practice

- prevent learned behaviour

Question 7

Suggest why 15 minutes are allowed before movement of maggots is recorded when investigation effect of humidity in particular

Answer 7

• allow humidity of container to stabilise

- allow maggots to detect humidity and respond to it

Question 8

Suggest why you cannot conclude that behaviour of maggots is caused by changing conditions

Answer 8

• may be due to other factors

- correlation does not equal causation

Question 9

Describe how you would use a maze to investigate whether maggots detect scent of raw meat

Answer 9

• use T part of maze only
• place maggots at one end and raw meat at other side
• count number of maggots on meat after set time
• use large sample size of maggots / statistical test