Overview & Lesson Sequence

Focus on Standards & Assessment

Materials Needed, Preparation & Planning, Management Strategies

Background Info

Intro Activity
Why Study Populations?

Meet the Aphids

Research Project
Aphid Population Growth

Data Analysis I

Data Analysis II

Optional Activity
The Power of Exponential Growth

References

Glossary

Suppliers

Resource Sheets
-Plant Propogation
-Rearing Aphids
-Bottle Cages
-Clip Cages
-Eyelash Brush
-Petri Dish Habitat
-External Aphid Anatomy
-Internal Aphid Anatomy
-Aphid Observation Lab
-Sampling Methods
-Data Collection
-Observation Check Sheet
-Sample Rubric for Group Presentation

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Aphid Observation Lab

Research Question:
Describe how a population grows? What factors affect the growth rate of populations?

Overview:
During a four-week period, you will be observing aphids and aphid populations. Each day you will observe a colony of aphids and record the observations on a data collection sheet.

Materials needed:
Host plant, aphids, eyelash brush, dissecting microscope and/or hand lenses, bottle cage and maintenance materials. Data Collection sheet or paper to develop your own (one per lab group).

Day 1
Using a hand lens, find one large, adult aphid in the classroom stock colony. Gently prod each insect with an eyelash brush until it removes its mouthparts from the leaf, then use the brush to transfer it to your prepared pea plant. This is the start of your aphid population.

Inspect the adult aphids using a dissecting microscope or a stack of two or three TriLens (see Suppliers). Do the aphids have red dots inside their abdomens? These are the eyes of the embryos developing within the aphids' ovaries. Cover the plant with a bottle cage (see Bottle Cages sheet). Label the plant and new colony with your group name and the date and set it under the grow lights in the classroom.

Day 2
Carefully remove the bottle cage and look for aphids. Are they in the same place that you left them or have they moved? Are there more aphids today? If so, how many? Discuss with your group how you plan to collect data on the aphid population each day. Note that as the aphid colony grows, you may need to consider using a sampling method (see Sampling Methods sheet) to estimate the number of aphids since it will be difficult to count them individually. Use the Data Collection sheet provided or develop a data sheet of your own. Record the number of aphids and any other data that you feel might be important for your research project (such as temperature, dead aphids, presence of other insects, etc...). on the data sheet.

Check your plant and aphid colony each day. Does the plant need water? Soil should be damp but NOT SOAKING WET; add water as necessary.

Days 3 to 28
Inspect the colony each day by carefully removing the cage. Continue to record your data being sure to carefully and thoroughly inspect the plant with a hand lens. Notice the presence of exoskeletons (from molts), adults, nymphs, honeydew, etc.... Water your plant if necessary and clean the bottle cage with a moist paper towel as needed to prevent mold growth.