Science+Journal

Alicia Kenyon recorded all observations. Room temperature 25 degrees Centigrade

Effects of Magnetic Field on Ants Journal 12/10/10 (ants just placed in farms) Four holes have been poked in each ant farm as the directions instructed. Two holes are one inch deep, and two holes are half an inch deep. The holes in each ant farm are approximately the same distance apart and are 4 mm in diameter. A tool provided by the ant kit was used to make these holes. The holes will help the ants to begin tunneling. When the red harvester ants were inserted, many were dead. This was most likely caused by asphyxiation due to the congestion of ants in the 10 mm snap cap tubes. These tubes had a plug of yellow and white food at the base (bananas?). Many ants in the farm with the magnet are clustering near the magnet, and climbing the wall in the area of the magnet. However, the ants in the other ant farm are beginning to calm down and have begun moving the deceased. They have also discovered that the blue gel is edible, and they are attempting to tunnel. A little later, both of the ant farms’ ants started tunneling.

12/11/10 The ants have made some progress. The control ant farm has showed much tunnel activity. One large tunnel has been created with two shallower ones. The ant farm with the magnet has one thick tunnel that leads into a chamber. It also has a tunnel right next to the magnet. Many ants are swarming the area with the magnet. Bits of gel are on the surface of the farms. When my father and I attempted to remove dead ants as the ant farm directions instructed, it resulted in ultimate failure. Many ants escaped the farm. All were put back in, but three died and one is still unacounted for (the missing ant got into my father’s shirt and bit him on the neck). No other attempts will be made to remove the dead since the living ants are too fast. Luckily, there are still approximately fifty ants in each farm.

12/12/10 The ants in the farm with the magnet seem to tunnel faster than the control ants. In the farm with the magnet, there are two thick tunnels that span the width of the farm, and three other tunnels are being constructed (these tunnels are traveling upward). Two shallow tunnels have been connected to form a horseshoe shape, and the other thick tunnel is hook-shaped. Also, the majority of the ants (the ones that are not tunneling) are clustered above the magnet. The ants in the control farm have one large continuous tunnel from the top of the ant farm to the bottom. There is also one other tunnel being dug that so far is traveling straight down. Unlike the ant farm with the magnet, the ants are dispersed throughout the farm.

12/13/10 In the ant farm with the magnet, the u-shaped tunnel has a third tunnel emerging from the center. The hook-shaped tunnel now has two “prongs” on the end, forming a y-shape. Two of the tunnels that are traveling upward have reached the surface, while a third is now traveling diagonally. Another tunnel, one that is traveling along the bottom of the farm, has reached the right corner of the farm, and it is now traveling up towards the surface. There are many bits of gel on the surface (much more than the other farm). These ants are working faster than the other ants. Also, either the ants are tunneling, or they are clustered above the magnet, or in a chamber underneath the magnet. In the control ant farm, not much has changed. One other tunnel is being dug, and one tunnel is just being started. The tunnel traveling straight down is now turning towards the left. The long tunnel has reached the bottom right corner. However, the vast majority of the ants are on the surface with the small hills of gel bits.

12/14/10 In ant farm with the magnet, the ants have connected a few tunnels to each other, and there is now a large crooked u-shaped tunnel. Also, the long tunnel that runs along the bottom of the farm now curves upward so that it reaches the surface. There is also a tunnel that resembles a large check mark. The surface of the ant farm is nearly filled to the top with bits of gel debris from the many tunnels. Many ants are clustered beneath the magnet in a chamber. In the control ant farm, a u-shaped tunnel has been created with a tunnel extending down from it. A secondary tunnel is now connected to the main long tunnel. Many ants are clustered in the bottom right corner of the ant farm in a chamber. The amount of gel bits on the surface has increased, but is no where near as much as the other ant farm.

12/15/10 In the ant farm with the magnet, tunnels have been widened, and some tunnels are being built behind existing ones. The ants are nearly all clustered underneath the magnet. In the control ant farm, the ants are either clustered in the bottom right corner, or are spread out on the surface. Tunnels have been widened (less than the other farm), and a tunnel on the far right is being created. This tunnel is traveling upward. The dead ants are being encased in the gel on the surface. In both ant farms, the ants are attempting to escape by chewing through the white foam around the ant farms’ lids.

12/16/10 Today, the lids of both ant farms were lifted for a few seconds to allow oxygen in. Immediately, the ants of both farms ran out of the tunnels and tried to escape. The ants in the farm with the magnet have many more tunnels than the control ant farm. A complex tunnel structure has been built in the farm with the magnet. In this farm, the ants are widening existing tunnels, and are connecting these tunnels to other tunnels. These ants are also tunneling through the gel bits on the surface. The ants are still clustered in their usual place, above or below the magnet, and there are still many more gel bits in this farm than the other one. The ants in the control farm are also tunneling, but at a noticeably slower rate than the other ants. In the upper right of this farm, a hook-shaped tunnel is being connected to an identical hook-shaped tunnel behind it. These ants are still more spread out than the other ants, but many are still clustered in the bottom right corner.

12/17/10 No more prominent tunnels have been built in either ant farm, but the ants in the farm with the magnet have chewed away more gel, so more tunnels are right up against the plastic of the farm. This allows a very clear view of the ants tunneling. Looking through a magnifying glass provided by the ant kit, the ants’ mandibles are visible as they bite off chunks of gel. They then carry these chunks to the surface. Tunnels are wide enough to allow two ants to walk side by side in a single tunnel. This time, many ants are in a tunnel near the magnet. In the control ant farm, the ants are doing the same thing as the ants in the other farm, but at a slower rate. There is less progress in this farm, and ants are still clustered in the bottom right corner.

12/18/10 In the ant farm with the magnet, the ants are making new tunnels again. A tunnel is being created that extends from the long tunnel running along the bottom of the farm. Also a large collection of tunnels has been created near the surface. Some ants are still clustered above and beneath the magnet. In the control ant farm, the ants are digging a horizontal tunnel that extends from the u-shaped tunnel. The ants are also digging a tunnel that extends from the long tunnel running along the bottom of the farm. This forms a y-shaped tunnel.

12/19/10 In the ant farm with the magnet, the tunnel mentioned yesterday (the one extending from the long tunnel running along the bottom of the farm) now extends all the way to the surface. Many ants are widening this tunnel, and some ants are clustered above and below the magnet. Also the gel bits on the surface have increased, and ants are trying to chew through the white foam again. In the control ant farm, the y-shaped tunnel created yesterday is now connected to a thick chamber. Also, the horizontal tunnel created yesterday was made longer. It is now connected to another tunnel. In addition, another small tunnel has been built that is connected to the long vertical tunnel on the far left. The amount of gel bits has increased and many ants are clustered in the bottom right corner.

12/20/10 In the ant farm with the magnet, tunnels have been widened, but no new/prominent tunnels have been made. Ants are still clustered in their usual places, and a few tunnels have been dug through the gel bits. In the control ant farm, the ants have made the small tunnel (the one connected to the vertical tunnel) a little longer. Also, the ants have tunneled through more of the gel bits on the surface. Lastly, many ants are still clustered in the bottom right corner.

12/21/10 In the ant farm with the magnet, there are no new tunnels that have been created. Many ants are still clustered underneath the magnet in a chamber. In the control ant farm, a long tunnel that snakes around and behind other tunnels has been dug. This winding tunnel is connected to the back of the small tunnel that showed signs of being elongated yesterday. The other end of the tunnel is connected to the long horizontal tunnel running along the bottom of the farm. Some ants are still clustered in the bottom right corner, but others are very active. The amount of gel bits on the surface is catching up to the other ant farm.

12/22/10 In the ant farm with the magnet, some tunnels have shown signs of being widened, but no new tunnels have been made. This farm may have reached the maximum amount of tunnels. The majority of the ants are still clustered underneath the magnet in a chamber. In the control ant farm, the small tunnel mentioned yesterday has been further elongated, and other tunnels have been widened. Many ants are digging while others are clustered in the bottom right corner.

12/23/10 There has been no significant change in the ant farm with the magnet. Nearly every ant is clustered in a chamber underneath the magnet. In the control ant farm, the long winding tunnel is now connected to the surface. In addition, the once small tunnel is now a long tunnel that curves upward to the surface. It is also connected to another tunnel that reaches the surface. Lastly, many ants are still clustered in the bottom right corner.

12/24/10 In the ant farm with the magnet, one short tunnel was made that connects two major tunnels. Ants are still clustered underneath the magnet. There is no significant change in the control ant farm. Ants are still clustered in the bottom right corner, and there is a short tunnel through the gel bits.

12/25/10 There is no significant change in either ant farm.

12/26/10 There is no significant change in either ant farm. However in both ant farms, the ants made tiny sets of tunnels in the gel bits on the surface.