Ant Behavioral Science Projects

Ant behavioral science projects allow you to investigate ant behavior. This behavioral science project is meant to give you ideas on how to perform experiments and arrange your project. Use this project to come up with ideas for your own experiments.

Ant Behavioral Science Projects - Sugar Concentration and Ants

The purpose of this ant behavioral science project is to determine which concentrations of sugar ants prefer.

Background:

Research information on ants. Answer the following questions: What types of food do ants eat? Where do they typically live? How long do ants live? Can ants be harmful to people? Do ants help the environment?

Hypothesis:

From your research you should have an idea of what ants eat. From this you will predict which concentration of sugar ants prefer (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 30%).

Materials: (Adult supervision of kids is always recommended.)

• Suggested ant habitat kit: Kit includes mail-in coupon for ants.

   

Science Kit: GeoSafari AntZone

ages 6 and up

• Table sugar
  
  
• Beaker - (100ml or more)
  
  
• Graduated Cylinders
  
  
• Balance
  
  
• Spoon
  
  
• Distilled water (grocery store)
  
  
• Six small containers
  
  

Procedure:

1. Gather materials needed for your experiment. You must mail in your coupon before you can receive the ants for your kit. Make a note of the species of ants you have when they arrive.

2. Follow instructions and safety precautions for setting up your ant habitat. Parental guidance is suggested.

3. Label each of the 6 small containers with one of the following: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 30%.

4. Add 100 ml of distilled water to your beaker.

5. Using a balance, measure 30 grams of sugar.

6. Add the sugar to the distilled water in the beaker and stir with a spoon until dissolved. This is a 30% sugar concentrated solution.

7. Dilute your solution to create concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%.

• For the 5% concentration, pour 5ml of the sugar solution from your beaker into a 50ml graduated cylinder.
  (You can measure 5ml of the sugar solution using a 10ml graduated cylinder, then pour this solution into the 50ml graduated cylinder.)
  Add distilled water into your 50ml cylinder containing the 5ml sugar solution until it reaches the 30ml mark.

8. Pour some of your 5% concentrated solution into your container labeled 5%.

9. Repeat step 7 to make the other concentrations (10%, 15%, and 20%) by substituting 10ml, 15ml, or 20ml of sugar solution for the 5ml sugar solution. Pour each concentration into its respective container.

• Be sure to clean and dry graduated cylinders when making different concentrations so as not to mix different concentrated solutions.

10. Pour some of the distilled water into your container labeled 0% concentration. (This is your no sugar concentration)

11. Pour some of the 30% sugar solution from your beaker into your container labeled 30% concentration.

12. Place the containers (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 30%) inside your ant habitat. Be sure to spread them apart.

13. Observe the ants hourly and record the number of ants around each container during every hour.

Record Observations

% Concentration	Number of Ants Per Hour
	1 hour	2 hours	3 hours	4 hours	5 hours
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
30%

Results:

Record your data and compare your results. Describe what you observed in your sugar concentration and ants experiment. Which solution did the ants like most/least? Why? Graph and chart your data.

Conclusion:

Summarize what happened in your ant behavioral science project experiment based on your results. Explain patterns in your data. Did your data support your hypothesis? If not, explain why. Evaluate your project and make suggestions for improvements.

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