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The Effect Of Temperature On The Surface Of A Glass Jar

Decent Essays

Da Ye Kang
Population Design Lab
Ms. Chow
6th May 2014

Research Question/ Aim
To investigate how the change of the temperature on the surface of a glass jar, in conditions of 18°C(±0.5),20°C, 22°C, 24°C, 26°C, 28°C , 30°C respectively, affects the population growth of Drosophila melanogaster for 17 days.

Independent Variable
Seven different temperature conditions of 1L glass jar: 18°C(±0.5), 20°C, 22°C, 24°C, 26°C, 28°C, 30°C.

Dependent Variable
The number of adult Drosophila melanogaster (±1 fly) in 1000mL(±0.5) jar after 17 days, yet not including unhatched larvae and pupa.

Background Investigation

Drosophila Melanogaster are ectothermic animals, in which belongs to large family of Drosophilae, which is found commonly near human habitation. Adult are about 1mm in length with slightly larger female. Adult D. Melanogaster has large red compound eyes with short antennae, and mouth for sopping up liquids. Their main source of food is herbivore, and they often lay egg on fruits. For these reasons, their population tend to peak during fall, and are considered as major pests.

The average life span of D. Melanogaster is found be 26 days for female and 33 days for a male. Drosophila has evolutionary features of having a temperature sensor within its body. Its ability to sense and regulate the body temperature has been a great field of interest among researchers, in order to reveal how such traits evolved. Drosophila is an easy model for investigation in many occasions,

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