Earthworm Research Project Science in Action!!

1. Niche What is an organisms niche? What is the niche of an earthworm? - they need to move through the soil to eat dead plant matter so they aerate the soil and their waste fertilizes it - they are the basis of many food chains

2. Habitat What is an organisms habitat? What is the habitat of the earthworm? - they are found all over the world, they prefer dark moist conditions (no lungs so they breath through their skin) - can be 1-20 worms per sq. foot!!

3. Movement Worms have 2 sets of muscles. Long ones- run the length of the body. When they contract the worm is shorter and thicker. Ring shaped- circle each body segment. When they contract the worm gets longer and thinner. Move in a wave like fashiom.

4. Several Factors affect populations. Soil temp and moisture, pH, amount of dead plant matter (food), pesticides and herbicides Plowed fields have less worms than pastures. Why? Impact?

5. Worm anatomy No eyes- photoreceptor cells, more in front by mouth than in the back. Why? Have simple nervous system.

6. Nerve to Muscle Signal Worm is a model which can be used to better understand how human nervous system works. Nerve cell are connected to a synapse but the synapse is not connected to the muscle cell. A chemical messenger (called acetylcholine) must “carry” the message. And then the muscle contracts. An enzyme (called acetylcholinesterase)breaks the bond and deactivates it which causes the muscle to relax. How could this be linked to Parkinson’s Disease and others?

7. Aldicarb Aldicarb is a pesticide that is used worldwide since 1970. Used on cotton, bananas, grapes, hops, lettace, potatoes….. Aldicarb upsets the way nerves signal muscles. It has a similar structure to acetylcholine and causes the muscles to contract non-stop. Eventually the muscle is exhausted and stops working. Its use has been limited in the US. A Professor at UW- Stevens Point found aldicarb in well water and since 1984 it is very limited in its use.

8. Aldicarb video

9. Make your own Worm Experiment! Studying behavior. Behavior is a series of actions in response to the environment. Must be observable and measurable. Use qualitative and quantitative data.

10. How we Do Science… Science: “A process for answering questions and solving problems” The process of science (scientific method). What do we already know? What do we need to know? What do we do to learn what we need to know? What do we now know? What do we now need to know?

11. The Problem….. Develop a research plan to answer the question: How do worms react to a stimulant? Can pick any reasonable and safe stimulant. Your plan must be written out and approved by me. This report will be worth 50 points. Form a hypothesis. Does not have to be “if… then..” it can be “yes, no” but it must be testable. Must have a control.

Looking for changes in behavior- not looking to kill the worm Looking for changes in behavior- not looking to kill the worm. Want to see: if it is attracted to or avoids, movement changes, amount of movement, distance traveled, burrowing time affected etc Need organized data table/graphs Must form a conclusion Will be making a poster and submitting it to UW- Milwaukee Professors to be shown possibly at a conference there in April. The poster will be worth the other 50 points as well.

12. Example What do we already know? Seems to be lots of worms out of the soil when it rains. So our hypothesis is = Do earthworms always come out of the soil when it rains? What do we need to know? How much water needs to be present to get worms out of the soil?

What do we do to learn what we need to know? - set up an experiment What do we now know? - data and form a conclusion What do we now need to know? - an experiment in not ever truly over always more to learn/test - Does the type of soil matter? Temperature of the rain? Others???