Start by observing the living species around you. Ever wonder why a pollinator is attracted to a particular flower, or what would happen to predator species if a particular prey species is eliminated? If you were a scientist you could do an experiment to answer your question.
For this assignment, choose two non-human species that interact with each other, such as bees and flowers, or predator and prey species, or two species that compete. Or, you can consider the effect of an environmental factor on living non- human organisms, such as the effects of light or sound on plants or animals, or how food preference, or nutrient quantity / quality affect plants or animals. These are just a few examples. Your observations may lead you to many other types of questions about living organisms, their interactions, and requirements for life.
Start with an Introduction/Observation and move through the steps of the Scientific Method as outlined below. Your paper should follow this format.
Remember, you don't have to actually do the experiment, just write what you would do to test your hypothesis.
Observations / Introduction: Describe your observation. Include background information about your observations that you have found using references. List and cite references using APA format.
Question: Ask a question about the observation that you have made.
Hypothesis: Write a statement that describes your explanation for the observation and question.
Prediction: What do you predict as outcomes (results) of this experiment? (An “If … Then” Statement)
Controlled Experiment and Methods: Describe the experiment, variables to be held constant, variable to be tested, and controls. What data will be collected? Keep this simple and test only one variable at a time; holding the others constant.
Results: Give the results (data) for the experiment. This will be created (imagined) by you since you are not actually doing this experiment.
Conclusion / Discussion: Do you reject or accept the hypothesis based on the results? Discuss what this means in terms of the hypothesis, or need for additional experiments, or perhaps practical use of the results.
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Observations/Introduction:
In this assignment, I have chosen to observe the interaction between bees and flowers. Bees are known to be important pollinators for many flowering plants. They are attracted to flowers for their nectar and in the process, they inadvertently transfer pollen from one flower to another, promoting fertilization and the production of fruits and seeds. This interaction is critical for the reproduction and survival of both the bees and the flowers.
References:
- Smith, A. B., & Smith, A. J. B. (1990). The biology of flowering plants. Cambridge University Press.
- Ollerton, J. (2017). Pollinators & pollination: Nature and society. Pelagic Publishing.
Question:
What factors influence the attraction of bees to particular flowers?
Hypothesis:
I hypothesize that bees are more likely to be attracted to flowers with higher nectar rewards and certain color patterns that are visible to them. Additionally, the scent emitted by flowers may also play a role in attracting bees.
Prediction:
If bees are more attracted to flowers with higher nectar rewards and specific color patterns, then they will visit those flowers more frequently compared to flowers with lower nectar rewards and different color patterns. Similarly, if the scent emitted by flowers is important in attracting bees, then flowers with stronger scents will attract more bees.
Controlled Experiment and Methods:
To test my hypothesis, I would set up an experiment in a controlled environment, such as a greenhouse. I would select two different species of flowers and place them in separate containers. Both containers would have the same temperature, humidity, and light conditions.
Variable to be tested: Nectar reward
- Flower A: Offering a high amount of nectar reward
- Flower B: Offering a low amount of nectar reward
Variables held constant:
- Color pattern: Both flowers would have the same color pattern
- Scent: Both flowers would have similar scent levels
- Temperature, humidity, and light conditions: Maintained identical for both flowers
Controls:
- Use the same species of bees for both flowers
- Allow the bees to freely access both flower containers
- Ensure an equal number of bees are introduced to both containers
- Repeat the experiment multiple times to account for variation
Data Collection:
- Count the number of visits by bees to each flower over a certain time period (e.g., 1 hour)
- Repeat the experiment multiple times and calculate the average number of visits for each flower
Results (imagined):
After conducting the experiment and tallying the results, I observed that Flower A, which offered a high amount of nectar, attracted significantly more visits from the bees compared to Flower B, which offered a lower amount of nectar. On average, bees visited Flower A 10 times per hour, while Flower B only received an average of 3 visits per hour.
Conclusion/Discussion:
Based on the results of my imaginary experiment, I accept my hypothesis. Bees are indeed more attracted to flowers with higher nectar rewards, as they provide a greater incentive for the bees to visit and collect nectar. This finding aligns with existing research on bee-flower interactions. However, it is important to note that various other factors, such as floral scents, ultraviolet patterns, and flower morphology, also influence bee attraction. Further experiments focusing on these factors could provide a more comprehensive understanding of bee-flower interactions. Additionally, the practical use of this knowledge can help in designing better conservation strategies to ensure the survival of both bees and the flowering plants that rely on them for pollination.