Mealworm Behaviour Virtual Lab: Understanding Reflexive and Instinctive Responses | Lecture notes Construction

ANSWER KEY

Virtual Lab:

Mealworm Behaviour

Mealworms are the larvae (immature forms) of the darkling beetle, Tenebrio molitor. They are

widely sold in pet stores for use as food sources for reptiles, fish, and wild birds. Due to their

size, ease of rearing and handling, mealworms are also used widely in biological research.

They will respond to different types of stimuli in their environments, and are ideal for studying

animal behaviour.

Go to: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/ and click on “Mealworm Behaviour”.

Pre-lab questions Read the introduction on the left side of the page, and answer the questions below.

1. What does it mean to say that a behaviour is “innate”?

It is a behavior that the organism is born with and has enabled the organism to survive. It is not a behavior

that is learned.

2. Distinguish between reflexive behaviours and instinctive behaviours.

Reflexive behaviors are an organism’s immediate reaction to a stimulus. It is a form of innate behavior.

These messages are sent to the spinal cord and straight to the muscle.

Instinctive behaviors are those that have evolved over time in the organism. The organism will recognize the

stimulus and perform the behavior to completion.

3. (Choose the best response) What is the simplest type of innate behaviour?

a. learned behaviours

b. automatic responses to stimuli

c. responses to stimuli that bypass the brain

d. automatic responses that do not bypass the brain

e. b and c

f. b and d

4. Classify each stimulus below as visual, tactile, chemical, temperature, or auditory. More than one

classification may apply; if this is the case, write all of them.

a. A metal pot falls to the ground, producing a loud sound. Auditory,

b. A mischievous friend touches an ice cube to your tailbone. Temperature, tactile

c. Cooking bacon produces a familiar scent, and crackling sound. Auditory, chemical

d. A traffic light turns yellow, signaling to apply your car brakes. Visual

5. List one instinctive human behaviour and one reflexive human behaviour.

 Instinctive: Answers may vary. Ex. human fear of certain animals (i.e snakes), certain emotions that we

feel.

 Reflexive: Answers may vary. Ex. the knee-jerk reflex, reflex when touching a hot plate.

Objectives: By the end of the activity, you will…

 predict, observe, and describe the responses of mealworms to various stimuli

 distinguish between reflexive and instinctive behaviours



explain the importance of reflexive and instinctive behaviours

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ANSWER KEY

Virtual Lab:

Mealworm Behaviour

Mealworms are the larvae (immature forms) of the darkling beetle, Tenebrio molitor. They are widely sold in pet stores for use as food sources for reptiles, fish, and wild birds. Due to their size, ease of rearing and handling, mealworms are also used widely in biological research. They will respond to different types of stimuli in their environments, and are ideal for studying animal behaviour. Go to: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/ and click on “Mealworm Behaviour”. Pre-lab questions Read the introduction on the left side of the page, and answer the questions below.

What does it mean to say that a behaviour is “innate”? It is a behavior that the organism is born with and has enabled the organism to survive. It is not a behavior that is learned.
Distinguish between reflexive behaviours and instinctive behaviours. Reflexive behaviors are an organism’s immediate reaction to a stimulus. It is a form of innate behavior. These messages are sent to the spinal cord and straight to the muscle. Instinctive behaviors are those that have evolved over time in the organism. The organism will recognize the stimulus and perform the behavior to completion.
(Choose the best response) What is the simplest type of innate behaviour? a. learned behaviours b. automatic responses to stimuli c. responses to stimuli that bypass the brain d. automatic responses that do not bypass the brain e. b and c f. b and d
Classify each stimulus below as visual, tactile, chemical, temperature, or auditory. More than one classification may apply; if this is the case, write all of them. a. A metal pot falls to the ground, producing a loud sound. Auditory, b. A mischievous friend touches an ice cube to your tailbone. Temperature, tactile c. Cooking bacon produces a familiar scent, and crackling sound. Auditory, chemical d. A traffic light turns yellow, signaling to apply your car brakes. Visual
List one instinctive human behaviour and one reflexive human behaviour.  Instinctive: Answers may vary. Ex. human fear of certain animals (i.e snakes), certain emotions that we feel.  Reflexive: Answers may vary. Ex. the knee-jerk reflex, reflex when touching a hot plate. Objectives: By the end of the activity, you will…  predict, observe, and describe the responses of mealworms to various stimuli  distinguish between reflexive and instinctive behaviours  explain the importance of reflexive and instinctive behaviours

Procedure Follow the procedure outlined on the left side of the page. It will guide you through the process of making predictions and observations of mealworm behaviour. After you have made your first four observations, press Reset to obtain a new set of stimuli. Keep doing this until you have made observations of all of the stimuli listed below. Observations Record the observed behaviour, the type of behaviour (reflexive/instinctive, and type of stimulus, for each stimulus applied to the mealworm. Some of the experimental conditions may represent more than one type of stimulus (e.g., a stimulus may be both visual and chemical). Stimulus Observed Behaviour (point form) Type of Behaviour Type of Stimulus Petri dish with light and dark coloured sides Explores both sides and stays on the dark side instinctive Visual Construction paper covers part of the dish Goes under the paper and stays there Instinctive visual Piece of cooked macaroni Immediately moves toward the macaroni instinctive visual A piece of uncooked macaroni Moves away instinctive visual Touched by a Feather Wriggles around reflexive Tactile Beam of light shines on mealworm’s head Moves away Instinctive Visual Drops of ammonia placed near mealworm Backs away from the ammonia Instinctive Chemical Touched by a metal paper clip Becomes still for a moment reflexive Tactile Drops of apple juice placed near mealworm Moves towards it and drinks it instinctive Chemical Air blown on mealworm’s head Moves away from the air reflexive Tactile Slice of apple introduced Moves toward apple and eats it instinctive Chemical Alarm beeps near the mealworm Remains still reflexive Note: mealworms do not have ears tactile Cool water dropped on the mealworm It wriggles around and then becomes still reflexive Tactile Bran flakes are introduced Moves toward bran flakes and eats them instinctive Chemical A piece of banana is introduced Moves toward banana and eats it instinctive Chemical Piece of cardboard Crawls over the cardboard instinctive Visual Drops of hot water are placed near the mealworm Moves towards the water, then backs away Instinctive Tactile

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Virtual Lab:

Mealworm Behaviour