Ant Research Project: Lab Work

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

• 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 types2. Clean up samples– Dry ants & transfer to new bags

3. Process samples– Count ants (today)– Identify ants (next Friday)

4. Analyze data5. 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