Biology students recently performed an animal behavior lab with pill bugs in a controlled experiment while using data collection and statistical analysis to determine whether the organisms showed measurable preferences.
In the lab, students used choice chambers with different environments, such as light versus damp dark environments and recorded which environment the pill bug chose over time across multiple trials. They then used chi-square analysis to determine whether any observed movement patterns were statistically significant or likely due to chance.
“During the lab I felt a little squeamish because I’m not a fan of bugs, but I thought it was interesting to see how they would react to different environments,” senior Janani Pragalbha said. “I learned that pill bugs have a preference to live in areas with damp soil compared to damp filter paper because it mimics their natural habitat and gives them space to burrow.”
She also described the student-driven nature of the experiment and the amount of responsibility involved in collecting and analyzing data.
“I was responsible for recording the data of how many bugs were on each side of the chamber after each minute was up, writing the hypothesis and procedures, and calculating the chi squared value to prove or reject our null hypothesis which was that there would be no statistical difference in the bugs’ preference of damp soil compared to damp filter paper,” she said.
Junior Tuscany Morthole said watching the pill bugs move through the chambers was the most engaging part of the activity.
“My favorite part was watching them go around the containers and trying to escape,” Morthole said.”They also would try to hide under the filter paper which was interesting to see.”
The hands-on nature of the lab, however, also came with challenges in handling the organisms carefully and staying patient during observation periods.
“My least favorite part was waiting for 30 minutes in total,” she said. “I also didn’t like having to figure out how to get them without smashing them since they are little creatures that move a lot.”
Biology teacher Miranda Katz said the lab was designed to mirror real scientific investigation and strengthen skills used on the AP exam.
“The goal of this lab was for students to investigate animal behavior by designing and carrying out their own experiment using isopods,” Katz said. “They explored how environmental factors influence behavior and used data to test a hypothesis. Students practiced designing controlled experiments, identifying variables, collecting and analyzing data, and using chi-square to evaluate their results.”
Students also connected the lab to their unit of ecology and natural selection by studying how behavior can influence survival and how organisms respond to environmental conditions over time, while allowing the students to have control over parts of the lab for hands-on learning.
“I really like this lab because it gives students ownership of their investigation,” she said. “It’s messy, it’s real science, and it helps them build confidence in designing and analyzing experiments on their own.”
