The Effects of Alcohol on Spiders: What Happens to Web Construction after Spiders Consume Alcohol?

National Association of Biology Teachers. 12030 Sunrise Valley Drive #110, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-406-0775; Tel: 703-264-9696; Fax: 703-264-7778; e-mail: publication@nabt.org; Web site: http://www.nabt.org

Y

5

Drinking; High School Students; Scientific Research; Science Experiments; Entomology; Data Analysis; Public Service

0002-7685

In the high school experiment reported in this paper, spiders were provided with 40% ethanol (ETOH) in order to determine the effects of alcohol on the web-spinning ability of orb weaver spiders. It was hypothesized that alcohol would have a deleterious effect on the number of radii, number of cells, and area of cells in the webs of orb weaving spiders. Results indicated that the number of rays and cells produced by the spider before alcohol was consumed was significantly greater than the number of rays produced after alcohol was consumed, and the average cell area was larger after alcohol consumption. Behavioral differences were also observed. Spiders tended to spin webs more quickly after alcohol consumption, and often ripped holes in the webs. As a continuation of this project, a public service program was created that featured "before" and "after" photographs of the spider webs, and presentations were made by high school students to younger students in elementary and middle schools. (Contains 4 figures and 4 tables.)

ERIC

8

2006

EJ745342