The effect of various light bulb and accompanying visible light frequencies on Pogonomyrmex occidentalis activity

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

10th Grade

Presentation Topic

Zoology

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

3rd Place

Abstract

Numerous ecological systems are built upon the foundation laid by keystone species, such as ants, whose relationships are typically mutualistic. Different light bulbs emit various wavelengths of light with different energy outputs. Often animal and insect behaviors are dictated by circadian rhythms, internal clocks that regulate the internal processes of organisms, and zeitgebers, which are environmental cues (such as light and temperature) that alert and help modulate circadian rhythm. This experiment was conducted with the purpose of viewing how lights, affect the nest building activity of the insect, P. occidentalis. It was hypothesized that LED lights would have the least negative effect on ant activity. For this experiment, a series of ant farms were placed beneath a light bulb for seventy-two hours and the length of the tunnel was measured every eight hours. This procedure was repeated four times, with a different variable including, LED bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, and halogen bulbs and no-light. To analyze the data, an ANOVA and post hoc test were performed at =0.1,which revealed that there was enough evidence to support the claim, F(1,36)=1.82, p=0.161. In fact the LED bulbs had a positive effect on the ants, since ant activity was greater in LED lights than in darkness. To conclude, the hypothesis was partially supported because the statistical analysis revealed that half of the data had differences between the means and this difference became more prominent as time passed.

Location

Neville 122

Start Date

4-14-2018 9:15 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

COinS
 
Apr 14th, 9:15 AM

The effect of various light bulb and accompanying visible light frequencies on Pogonomyrmex occidentalis activity

Neville 122

Numerous ecological systems are built upon the foundation laid by keystone species, such as ants, whose relationships are typically mutualistic. Different light bulbs emit various wavelengths of light with different energy outputs. Often animal and insect behaviors are dictated by circadian rhythms, internal clocks that regulate the internal processes of organisms, and zeitgebers, which are environmental cues (such as light and temperature) that alert and help modulate circadian rhythm. This experiment was conducted with the purpose of viewing how lights, affect the nest building activity of the insect, P. occidentalis. It was hypothesized that LED lights would have the least negative effect on ant activity. For this experiment, a series of ant farms were placed beneath a light bulb for seventy-two hours and the length of the tunnel was measured every eight hours. This procedure was repeated four times, with a different variable including, LED bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, and halogen bulbs and no-light. To analyze the data, an ANOVA and post hoc test were performed at =0.1,which revealed that there was enough evidence to support the claim, F(1,36)=1.82, p=0.161. In fact the LED bulbs had a positive effect on the ants, since ant activity was greater in LED lights than in darkness. To conclude, the hypothesis was partially supported because the statistical analysis revealed that half of the data had differences between the means and this difference became more prominent as time passed.