Exploration #8: Cardboard or Plastic Home?
Times Repeated:
Length of time from beginning to the end of assignment
Hypothesis:
That mealworms will survive longer and better in a cardboard box. This hypothesis is based around our initial research on mealworms, where it was said that mealworms prefer cardboard boxes over plastic boxes.
Materials:
Procedure:
1. Place mealworms in a cardboard box with newspaper and bran on the bottom.
2. Place mealworms in a plastic box with newspaper and bran on the bottom.
3. Observe the speed of their development and whether or not the mealworms survive
Observations:
The mealworms developed faster in the plastic box. In looking at the boxes we concluded that the possible reason behind the quicker development of the worms in the plastic box was to do with the fact that the plastic box provided us as caretakers to more easily nurture, maintain and clean their environment. In the cardboard box, the apple decomposed as it softened the box making it harder to maintain. We had to change boxes about half way through the project because of the condition of the box. In the plastic though, the worms were exposed more so to the light they settled themselves in the grooves in the bottom of the box and seemed to have just as adequate shelter. Because we were able to keep the plastic box cleaner it can be concluded that the worms developed faster because of the more hospitable environment.
Variables:
The boxes
Results:
Mealworms develop better in a clean environment. While cardboard may be better in some aspects, it can be harder to keep clean, especially when dealing with elements such as rotting fruit.
Length of time from beginning to the end of assignment
Hypothesis:
That mealworms will survive longer and better in a cardboard box. This hypothesis is based around our initial research on mealworms, where it was said that mealworms prefer cardboard boxes over plastic boxes.
Materials:
- a plastic box
- a cardboard box
- mealworms
Procedure:
1. Place mealworms in a cardboard box with newspaper and bran on the bottom.
2. Place mealworms in a plastic box with newspaper and bran on the bottom.
3. Observe the speed of their development and whether or not the mealworms survive
Observations:
The mealworms developed faster in the plastic box. In looking at the boxes we concluded that the possible reason behind the quicker development of the worms in the plastic box was to do with the fact that the plastic box provided us as caretakers to more easily nurture, maintain and clean their environment. In the cardboard box, the apple decomposed as it softened the box making it harder to maintain. We had to change boxes about half way through the project because of the condition of the box. In the plastic though, the worms were exposed more so to the light they settled themselves in the grooves in the bottom of the box and seemed to have just as adequate shelter. Because we were able to keep the plastic box cleaner it can be concluded that the worms developed faster because of the more hospitable environment.
Variables:
The boxes
Results:
Mealworms develop better in a clean environment. While cardboard may be better in some aspects, it can be harder to keep clean, especially when dealing with elements such as rotting fruit.