Fruit Fly Behavior Lab
In this virtual lab, explore how the behavioral response of Drosophila melanogaster is related to changes in the external environment. You will set up a choice chamber to examine the chemotactic response of fruit flies to a selected substance. Then, you will perform a chi-square goodness-of-fit test to determine whether the distribution of fruit flies within the chamber is statistically significant. Finally, you will consider how such a behavioral response can affect the overall fitness and contribute to the evolutionary success of a population.
Related resources
Topics
- chi square
- alternative hypothesis
- animal behavior
- AP Bio
- AP Biology
- AP
- behavior
- behavioral response
- chemotaxis
- chi-square equation
- chi-square test
- chi-square value
- chi-square
- choice chamber
- control group
- controlled variable
- critical value
- degree of freedom
- dependent variable
- df
- Drosophila melanogaster
- Drosophila
- evolutionary success
- experimental design
- experimental group
- experimental variable
- fitness
- fruit fly
- geotaxis
- goodness of fit
- H0
- H1
- independent variable
- innate behavior
- innate response
- kinesis
- learned behavior
- negative chemotaxis
- next generation science standards
- NGSS
- null hypothesis
- p-value
- phototaxis
- population
- positive chemotaxis
- stimulus
- taxis
- test for independence