II.B.1 Part Two-Compiling and Analyzing the Data
Materials:
Each student will need:
Instructions for the teacher:
- After the data have been collected, return to the classroom to analyze it. Distribute a
copy of the Class Data Worksheet to each student.
- Answer the questions on the Class Data Worksheet as
a class. When this information has been collected, try answering the questions below:
- Did you find one or two different species of wolf spiders?
- What kind of habitat does the scrub burrowing wolf spider prefer?
- Do the spiders live near each other? If so, why do you think they do?
- Did you find both small and large burrows within the flagged area? (Adult spider burrows
are approximately 10mm wide. Young spider burrows are approximately 5mm wide.)
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Results
After participating in this activity, your students should:
- Understand the concept of ecological niche.
- Understand the concept of a microhabitat and
give examples.
- Give examples of spider adaptations.
- Be able to carefully observe and measure.
- Participate in discussions and learn cooperatively.
Further Questions and Activities for Motivated Students
- Observe marked spider burrows over a period of time (several months to a year). Do the
number of burrows increase or decrease with time, season or weather conditions?
- How do sand-loving scrub burrowing wolf spiders deal with a heavy rainfall? How long
does it take for the spider to repair the damage to its burrow?
- How does the ratio of small burrows to large burrows change from one day to the next?
From one week to another? From one month to another?
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