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Ant Research Project: Lab Work. Research Project. Broad research question:. Research Project. Broad research question: Are different ant species selecting for different habitat types around campus? Narrow research questions:. Research Project.
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Research Project • Broad research question:
Research Project • Broad research question: Are different ant species selecting for different habitat types around campus? • Narrow research questions:
Research Project • Broad research question: Are different ant species selecting for different habitat types around campus? • Narrow research questions: Is RIFA restricted to particular habitats, and does RIFA prefer particular habitats • Applied interest: Eliminate RIFA from campus habitat while minimizing pesticide distribution
Research Project Steps • 1. Sample ants in different habitat types • 2. Clean up samples • Dry ants & transfer to new bags 3. Process samples • Count ants (today) • Identify ants (next Friday) 4. Analyze data 5. Report findings
Protocol • Count total number of ants in the bag • Write number directly on bag using fine-tip Sharpie • When you’re finished, get a new bag • 2 counts per bag • Each count made by a different class
Ways to Count Ants • Naked eye • Large species • Small sample size • Stereo dissecting microscope • Small species • Large sample size • Segregate samples in bag • Clumped samples
Ways to Count Ants • When body part separation is an issue, count the heads