Animal Behavior Lab

By

Daniel Nguyen

Group:
Janet Lee
Andrew Yi
AP Biology Daniel Nguyen
Animal Behavior Lab Period 1
Introduction: Ethology is the study of animal behavior in which ethologists study a
specific animal’s behaviors. Throughout their study, they observe behaviors, interpret the
future actions, and research other organisms as well. Factors which control the optimum
size of the population are biotic and abiotic. Examples of the factors which control the
size of the population is the environment, and climate conditions which contribute to the
overall population. This is known as habitat selection. Another factor which contributes
to ethology is taxis. Taxis is an observation of an organism in which it responds to an
environmental effect.

Animal: Betta Fish

Purpose: To observe the behavior of a certain organism and its responses to

environmental variables.

Pre-lab questions:

1. The betta fish belong to the chordate phylum; its class is the actinopterygii. The
phylum: chordate is characterized by a notochord, a dorsal neural tube,
pharyngeal slits, and an endostyle. In a more specific perspective the class is
classified by having fins which are composed primarily of webs of skin supported
by bony spines.
2. Betta fish can generally be found in slow moving waters and fields throughout
parts of Asia.
3. gradient is nonexistent.
4. –
5. Betta fish will flare out their gill covers in hopes of appearing impressive or
intimidating to its enemy’s or its future mates. Horizontal bars are displayed on
both sexes in the event of stress or fright. On the other hand, they display
horizontal lines when they are flirtatious. Betta fish are primarily known for their
aggressive traits. Siamese fighting fish have been known to aggressively respond
to their own reflections and even kill off rival fishes.
6. Betta fish are aggressive by impulsive behaviors which they have no control over.
They are aggressive because they were made that way. They always seek to be
“king of the hill” and seek to dispel any other fish which intrudes its areas.
7. During this experiment, I expect to see the betta fish become extremely
aggressive with its mirror image and as a result it will move accordingly.
8. Among other behavioral patterns that I expect to see, I expect the fish to flare out
their gill covers in preparation for its aggressive attacks.
9. Throughout this lab, I will be placing a mirror in front of a betta fish which will
be located in a fish bowl. As a result, I hope to see that the fish will respond with
extreme aggressiveness. I hope to achieve less errors by making it straight and
simple, by only having three objects: the fish bowl, betta fish, and a mirror.

Hypothesis: My hypothesis for this experiment is that I hope to see the fish respond with
aggressiveness towards its own image in the mirror tricking it into thinking that it is
another betta fish.
AP Biology Daniel Nguyen
Animal Behavior Lab Period 1
1st Trial 2nd Trial 3rd Trial
1st minute 3 1 3
nd
2 minute 2 4 2
3rd minute 3 5 4
th
4 minute 4 6 5
5th minute 5 5 4
th
6 minute 4 6 5
7th minute 6 7 3
th
8 minute 5 6 5
th
9 minute 4 8 7
10th minute 3 9 10

Graph on paper

Data Analysis:
The betta fish that I had received was blue. Throughout my observations, the fish
was swimming constantly. Its sex was male. As time passed throughout my experiment,
the betta fish began to increase in aggressiveness and speed. Among other observations
which I noticed was that it moved around without a specific direction. Its aggressiveness
was displayed by its aggressive tendencies to charge at the mirror. If there was a series of
stimuli which were integrated into the experiment, several changes will occur. Perhaps if
a female was added into the male’s environment, they may flirt for awhile and possibly
begin the process of reproduction. Another addition or change would be to line the entire
fish tank with a mirror so its reflection will be mirrored across the entire surface.
Although this may possibly increase its aggressiveness to the point where it will die from
absurdity, there is also a possibility that it will decrease in aggressiveness because there
will be several reflections surrounding it resulting in its surrender. Lastly, if the fish was
to have just finished the reproductive process, and it were to look into the mirror with its
mate, its aggressiveness may decrease as well.

Conclusion:
1. The fish initially starts off very calm, and as more time was added while having a
mirror inside the tank, the fish’s intensity grew at a constant rate. Although my
first trial ended with the same number its started with, the following trials showed
a significant difference. From trial 2, the first minute started with one and by the
end of the ten minutes, its intensity grew to 9. During the 3rd trial, its intensity
grew from 3 to 10. Therefore, the fish becomes more irritated by the mirror as it is
placed in the tank longer.
2.
3. The data that I have provided is reliable in a sense that I have taken note of
everything that has occurred the fish. The accuracy of this lab can be significantly
increased if the time intervals were shortened so that I could properly observe a
more detailed activity of the organism. Controls were used throughout the
experiment. I observed the fish for at least 5 minutes. The independent variable
utilized in his lab was the mirror.
AP Biology Daniel Nguyen
Animal Behavior Lab Period 1
4. My expectations were completely opposite. Following the experiment, after 24
hours, I expected the fish to be still battling out its reflection. Either that, or the
fish should already be dead, but instead I found the fish wandering around
aimlessly without intent rather than being bothered by its reflection. The internet
stated that the fish would persistently try and kill the object in the mirror and
would eventually kill itself. Instead, the fish that I received was not very
aggressive towards the mirror in the first place, but it did show signs of wearing
out.
5.
6. This is taxis because the behavioral response to the conditions were directional
and not random.
7. The animal flared out its gill covers in hopes of intimidating its enemy.