Background Information:Segmented worms such as the earthworm belong to the phylum Annelida. These worms have a more advanced body structure than most worms. The body of the earthworm is like two tubes, one inside used for digesting food and one outside serving as the body wall. The earthworm has a mouth but no nose, eyes, or ears. Yet it responds to odors and to changes in moisture, temperature, and light.
Purpose:
To observe an earthworm in a simulated (near-natural) soil environment.
Question:
What are the earthworm's responses to various stimuli, and are they able to learn anything from this?
Hypothesis: I predict that when the worm smells the apple peels it will
immediately begin to wiggle around and then burrow itself in the dirt, leaving behind tunnels in the dirt, making the decomposing process of the apple peelings speed up.
Materials:
Procedure:
Independent variable:
Apple peels
Dependent variable:
The earthworms reaction
Possible Results:
One possible result of this experiment would be if the earthworm does start wiggling and burrowing itself in the dirt speeding up the decomposing process for the apple peels proving that they are able to react to the smell of something and have learned what to do when they have smelled it. The worms should be able to match up the smell with a certain action that they must play out in order to do what needs to be done.
Purpose:
To observe an earthworm in a simulated (near-natural) soil environment.
Question:
What are the earthworm's responses to various stimuli, and are they able to learn anything from this?
Hypothesis: I predict that when the worm smells the apple peels it will
immediately begin to wiggle around and then burrow itself in the dirt, leaving behind tunnels in the dirt, making the decomposing process of the apple peelings speed up.
Materials:
- 3 cups (750 ml) of potting soil
- l-quart (l-liter) glass jar with lid
- 1 cup (250 ml) of water
- 8 to 10 earthworms (from a bait shop, or dig your own)
- apple peelings
- sheet of newspaper
- rubber bands
- hammer
- large nail
Procedure:
- Pour the soil into the jar.
- Moisten the soil with water and keep it moist during the entire project
- Put the worms into the jar.
- Place the apple peelings on the surface of the soil and keep the worms supplied with peelings during the entire project.
- Fold the newspaper so that it fits around the outside of the jar. Secure it with the rubber bands.
- Use the hammer and nail to make five or six holes in the lid of the jar.
- Secure the lid and place the jar in a cool place (see Figure 18.1).
- Remove the paper and observe the jar every day for two weeks.
Independent variable:
Apple peels
Dependent variable:
The earthworms reaction
Possible Results:
One possible result of this experiment would be if the earthworm does start wiggling and burrowing itself in the dirt speeding up the decomposing process for the apple peels proving that they are able to react to the smell of something and have learned what to do when they have smelled it. The worms should be able to match up the smell with a certain action that they must play out in order to do what needs to be done.