Expert: Walter Hintz - 5/30/2011

Question
Slater Investigation on Response to Light Stimuli.
Ok I am doing an experiment. Slaters(woodlice)are negatively phototaxic. (which means they stay away from light to avoid desiccation). how do i make the method for the experiment. how do i measure the differing light intensities of the lamp I am going to be using as the light source.

Answer
Hi Audry
What is your hypothesis? The fact that they avoid light is a given  so there is no sense in designing in experiment to test that. It appears that you want vary the light intensity you want to find out. You can get a light connected to a rheostat and use a light meter used by photographers. Then all you have to do is expose the sowbugs to the light. Instead of light intensity why don't you gret some filters or colored bulbs and check out their reaction to various wave lengths    walter