a possible experiment: Beetles vs. Bullfrogs
Hypothesis: If a population of American Bullfrogs were introduced to a lake environment with Dytiscidae (a species of a water beetle) already present as well, then the beetle population will significantly decrease in a short amount of time.
Materials:
-Pre-made lake-like environment with a controlled temperature
-Population of Dytiscidae (must be more than the number of bullfrogs)
-Population of mature American Bullfrogs (less than the number of Dytiscidae)
-Fish or glass worms for regular Dytiscidae feeding
-Notepad and pen for recording interaction between Dytiscidae and bullfrogs
Procedure:
1. Buy an ample, huge sized tank equipped with the qualities of a lake environment. Make sure it is set a temperature of 85 degrees and is very humid.
2. Count exactly how many beetles you have and are including in the experiment.
3. Count exactly how many bullfrogs you have and are including in the experiment.
4. Once the tank is set up, put the worms/fish prey into the body of water which is the lake.
5. Put in the Dytiscidae. Observe their interaction with their new environment over a span of a week
6. Introduce the American Bullfrogs into the environment.
7. Observe the behavior and feeding habits of the bullfrogs over a span of a week.
8. After a week, take out the bullfrogs, and leave in the Dytiscidae.
9. Count how many remaining beetles there are. If their is a sufficient amount of beetles that are missing, then the hypothesis is supported.
Background Research
-The key characteristic of predation however is the predator's direct impact on the prey population.
-These studies revealed the bullfrog's diet to be unique among North American frogs. A large percentage of their diets are aquatic animals, such as fish, tadpoles, ramshorn snails (freshwater snails), and Dytiscidae.
-Dytiscidae are about one inch long, much longer than the average water beetle. The largest can grow up to 2.5 inches.
-The specialized ability of bullfrogs to capture submerged and large prey will make it very easy for them to predate these water beetles.
Abstract:
A population with a certain number of dytiscidae will inhabit a controlled lake environment prior to the introduction of the bullfrogs. After about a month of the water beetles becoming situated with their new environment, a certain number of bullfrogs will be introduced. Over a span of a week, while behavioral activity is observed, the remaining number of dytiscidae will be recorded. If the number of these water beetles is evidently lower, than the hypothesis was supported. The purpose of the experiment is to prove how aggressive and how large their appetites are. Ultimately, to suggest that the reason for the declination of many insect species is because of the large and broad appetite of an American Bullfrog.
Materials:
-Pre-made lake-like environment with a controlled temperature
-Population of Dytiscidae (must be more than the number of bullfrogs)
-Population of mature American Bullfrogs (less than the number of Dytiscidae)
-Fish or glass worms for regular Dytiscidae feeding
-Notepad and pen for recording interaction between Dytiscidae and bullfrogs
Procedure:
1. Buy an ample, huge sized tank equipped with the qualities of a lake environment. Make sure it is set a temperature of 85 degrees and is very humid.
2. Count exactly how many beetles you have and are including in the experiment.
3. Count exactly how many bullfrogs you have and are including in the experiment.
4. Once the tank is set up, put the worms/fish prey into the body of water which is the lake.
5. Put in the Dytiscidae. Observe their interaction with their new environment over a span of a week
6. Introduce the American Bullfrogs into the environment.
7. Observe the behavior and feeding habits of the bullfrogs over a span of a week.
8. After a week, take out the bullfrogs, and leave in the Dytiscidae.
9. Count how many remaining beetles there are. If their is a sufficient amount of beetles that are missing, then the hypothesis is supported.
Background Research
-The key characteristic of predation however is the predator's direct impact on the prey population.
-These studies revealed the bullfrog's diet to be unique among North American frogs. A large percentage of their diets are aquatic animals, such as fish, tadpoles, ramshorn snails (freshwater snails), and Dytiscidae.
-Dytiscidae are about one inch long, much longer than the average water beetle. The largest can grow up to 2.5 inches.
-The specialized ability of bullfrogs to capture submerged and large prey will make it very easy for them to predate these water beetles.
Abstract:
A population with a certain number of dytiscidae will inhabit a controlled lake environment prior to the introduction of the bullfrogs. After about a month of the water beetles becoming situated with their new environment, a certain number of bullfrogs will be introduced. Over a span of a week, while behavioral activity is observed, the remaining number of dytiscidae will be recorded. If the number of these water beetles is evidently lower, than the hypothesis was supported. The purpose of the experiment is to prove how aggressive and how large their appetites are. Ultimately, to suggest that the reason for the declination of many insect species is because of the large and broad appetite of an American Bullfrog.