Transcript The Effect of Caffeine on the Survival and Development of Mealworms
By: Anna Gillin
How does caffeine effect the growth, survival, and development of mealworms?
Caffeine (C 8 H 10 N 4 O 2 ) is a drug that stimulates the nervous system It gives consumers an increase in energy and can elevate mood Caffeine is added to drinks and foods Side effects vary according to consumer
Mealworms are the larva stage of the Darkling Beatle Mealworms are part of the the
T. molitor
species
Tenebrio
Genus and The larval stage of mealworms can last from 90 up to 114 days As mealworms grow, they shed old shells and develop new ones.
The group of mealworms exposed to high levels of caffeine will lose more mass and have a higher death rate than the groups exposed to lower levels of caffeine.
500 milligrams caffeine 100 milligrams caffeine 135 mealworm larvae Square plastic containers Metal screens Distilled Water Wheat Bran Corn meal Shredded Newspaper Mortar and Pestle Digital Balance
The mealworms were divided into 3 groups: ◦ Group A (no caffeine) ◦ Group B (low caffeine) ◦ Group C (high caffeine) 15 mealworms were put into each box The following solutions were made: ◦ Group A: 100 mL of distilled water ◦ Group B: 100 mgs ( ½ caffeine pill) in 100 mL of distilled water ◦ Group C: 500 mgs (2 ½ caffeine pill) in 100 mL of distilled water
50 mL of the solutions were mixed with 50 grams of wheat bran and 50 grams of cornmeal
The mass and survivors were measured after a week and new bedding, solutions, and food mixtures were made
The length of the experiment lasted 4 weeks
Independent Variable- the amount of caffeine given to each group of mealworms Dependent Variable- the effects that caffeine had on each group of mealworms and the number of mealworms still living Control- the group of mealworms (Group C) that was not exposed to caffeine and only had food moistened by water Constants- the type of container, metal screen, temperature, food, bedding in the container, and amount of mealworms in each group
5 0 15 10 25 Mealworm Mortality Over 4 Weeks 20 Group A Group B Group C
Graph 1 Graph 2 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 -10 -20 Percent Change in Mealworm Mass Over 4 Weeks Group A Group B Group C
ttest of the Number Dead ttest (Group A, Group B) 0.034
ttest (Group A, Group C) 0.035
ttest (Group B, Group C) 0.184
ttest of the Percent Change in Mass Ttest (Group A, Group B) 0.306
Ttest (Group A, Group C) 0.088
Ttest (Group B, Group C) 0.708
ttest of the Percent Change in Mass/Organism Ttest (Group A, Group B) .530
Ttest (Group A, Group C) .916
Ttest (Group A, Group C) .297
The hypothesis stated that the mealworms exposed to higher levels of caffeine would lose more mass and have a higher death rate The hypothesis was partially supported because caffeine had a negative effect on mealworms It was rejected that varying levels of caffeine have different effects on mealworms
The temperature should remain constant A different source of food should be used The environment should remain consistent
Different organisms could be tested with caffeine The same experiment could be performed for the mealworms in their adult form as beetles A wider range of caffeine levels could be used to see if different amounts of caffeine have the same effects
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Please feel free to ask any questions regarding my experiment.