AIM: To investigate habituation of snails of snails.

PROBLEM STATEMENT: Can snails become habituated to a stimulus?

HYPOTHESIS: Time taken for tentacles to re-extend decreases with the increase of number of times stimulation been given to the snail.

VARIABLES: Fixed variable : Same type of snail, Interval of time Responding variable : Time taken for tentacles to re-extend Manipulated variable : Number of times the snail has been stimulated

APPARATUS and MATERIALS: One giant African land snail One dampened cotton wool bud Suitable clean, firm surface for the snails Stopwatch

PROCEDURE: 1. A giant African land snail is collected and placed on a clean, firm surface. The snail is allowed to get used to its new surrounding for a few minutes until it has fully emerged from its shell. 2. A cotton wool bud is dampened with water. 3. The snail is touched between the eye stalks with the dampened cotton wool bud and the stopwatch is immediately started. 4. The length of time between the touch and the snails tentacles to be re-extended is recorded. 5. The same area is touched again after a specific amount of time which is within 1 to 2 minutes. The time taken for the tentacles to re-extend is measured. 6. The procedure is repeated for a total of 10 touches, timing how long the snail takes time to reextend its tentacles each time. 7. The results are recorded in a suitable table and are presented in an appropriate graph.

RESULTS: Number of times the snail has been stimulated 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Time taken to tentacles re-extend (second)

Table 1 Time taken to tentacles of snail to re-extend

Graph of time taken for snail's tentacle to re-extend vs stimulation number

18 16 Time taken for snail's tentacle to re-extend 14 12 10 8 6 4.02 4 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Number of times the snails has been stimulated 5.03 3.76 2.31 10.86 15.65 15.45

10.42 8.44

4.61

Graph 1 Time taken to re-extend vs. stimulation number

DISCUSSION: Data evaluation The results are tabulated as in Table 1. A total if ten stimulations had been given to the snail during the experiment. The time taken for its tentacle to re-extend after each stimulation is recorded and after a constant time-interval, stimulation is re-applied. From Table 1, data shows the longest time it took to re-extend its tentacle is after the first stimulation which 15.65 seconds. Meanwhile, the shortest time recorded is 2.31 seconds which is after the last (tenth) stimulation given to snail. The difference between the first and last reading is as much as 13.34 seconds. Graph 1 shows a fluctuated trend of line graph. However, generally, the trend can be seen to be declining from first stimulation to tenth stimulation. The overall result follows the principal of habituation hence positive result of experiment. Habituation is defined as decreased response to a stimulus that is repeated without reinforcement. From the graph, it has already been shown. Habituation is important for animals learn and differentiate between dangerous stimulus and harmless touch around them. It takes place as memories formed and may be relatively short term but can become long term so that a response is lost permanently. However, in this experiment, the habituation is a short term memory. This is based on further test on snail after a spontaneous recovery. The habituation response can re-occur after a period of time where stimulus was not presented to the snail.

Sources of error and modifications Degree of response of snail which is the length of tentacle retracted during the stimulation may varied with degree of force used when touching its head. Therefore, stimulation must be given by the same person throughout the experiment and by poking with a same force each time. Besides that, as different spots of the snail may have different sensitivity, it should be ensure that stimulation is applied at precisely the same area between snails eye stalks.

Limitations The condition during experiment is different compare to environment of snails habitat. Therefore, its reaction may be different from its usual in the wild habitat. As snails response is a living organism, its response can be unpredictable at times. Even though degree of force is constant for every

stimulation, how far the body retracts for each stimulates may still varies. Other than that, the age of snail used in this experiment can be a factor related to habituation result. If an aged snail is used, the result will significant decrease as older snails habituated faster.

Ethical issues In this experiment too, since the experimental data are obtained from experiments with living organism which is giant African snail, ethical issue arose. In this experiment, snail is used as a main subject to be studied for the sake of science study. Observations are done on habituation to stimulation applied. However, during this experiment, Daphnia might suffer unnecessary stress due to experimental procedures which include being poke many times on its head. Nevertheless, snail is the most suitable living organism to be use in this study. As we should respect it as one of Gods creation, what we can do is reduce any possibilities of Daphnia suffering from this experiment such as suing damp cotton bud and placing the snail on a slightly wet table. In addition, the snails used on this experiment should be release instantly to its original habitat after the practical.

Further exploration 1. Experiment can be repeated with snails of different age. It can be investigated whether age of snails is a factor in habituation. 2. Force or stimulus is applied to different part of snail body. Investigation can be carried out to record time taken for foot to be extended after a touch.

FURTHER WORK: Correlation analysis using Spearmans rank correlation coefficient Number of times the snail has been stimulated 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank stimulation (x) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Time/second Rank time (y) 10 9 8 7 6 3 5 2 4 1 Difference/d (x y) -9 -7 -5 -3 -1 3 2 6 5 9 d

15.65 15.45 10.86 10.42 8.44 4.02 5.03 3.76 4.61 2.31

81 49 25 9 1 9 4 36 25 81

( ( (

) ) )

Interpretation of

: There is a strong negative correlation showing that the relationship is inverse which means when one variable ( number of stimulation) increase, the other variable (time) decrease .

Hypothesis testing for Spearmans rank correlation coefficient H : = 0 (there is no correlation between variables) H : 0 (there is correlation between variables) Level of significance, = 5% Level of significance on each tail, /2 = 2.5% or 0.025 Test statistic = -0.939

Conclusion: From table of critical values, the critical value is 0.6485 and -0.6485. -0.939 < -0.6485 ; Test statistic is less than critical value. Null hypothesis is accepted, At 0.025 significance level, there is no significant correlation between two variables.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS: Hands should be washed thoroughly for disinfection after touching the snails once all the equipment has been put ready. Stimulus should cause no harm to the snails.

CONCLUSION: The time taken for snails tentacle to re-extend decreases with the increase of number of stimulation given to it. Habituation occurs therefore hypothesis is accepted.

REFERENCES: http://www.animalbehavioronline.com/habituation.html http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/quarantine/pests-diseases/plants-products/giant_african_snail