This lab is a study of the scientific method. The scientific method is made up of several different parts:
| Observation | |
| Question | A question is based on the observations made. Ex. Why are animal teeth different shapes? |
| Hypothesis | A hypothesis is a statement explaining the observations made and answering the question asked. It is untestable by itself. Ex. Animal teeth are different shapes depending on the food they eat |
| Prediction | Predictions are derived from the hypothesis. The easiest way to form a prediction is by making an if/then statement. If the hypothesis is correct, then this must be true. The prediction is specific and testable. Ex. If animal teeth shapes depend on their food, then animals that eat plants will have one tooth shape and animals that eat meat will have another tooth shape. We can further predict that plant eaters will have large teeth capable of grinding, and animal eaters will have long teeth capable of tearing. |
| Experimentation, Summary and Conclusions | Experiments are designed to test the predictions derived from the hypothesis. There is usually a control (unmanipulated subject), and a treatment (manipulated subject to test the prediction). Comparisons between the control and the treatment show if the prediction was correct. Exceptions to this are comparative studies, such as the example used above. An experiment for this would simply be to look at plant vs. animal eaters and compare their tooth shape. We can say, if the prediction were correct, that our hypothesis was supported (NEVER PROVED). |
Then the cycle repeats itself. From the experiments run, new observations are made, the old hypothesis adjusted or a new one created with better predictions and more experiments run. The scientific method is one of the basic fundamentals to the further development of science.
In this particular lab, you will try your hand at testing the scientific method by selecting an adaptation found on a vertebrate animal at the Albuquerque Rio Grande Zoo. An adaptation is a trait that an organism possesses that helps that organism to be more successful at surviving and/or reproducing.
Choose a adaptive characteristic you see in more than one animal. Try to stick to the family level or below (e.g. Genus). Although there are adaptations that span orders, these questions may prove too complicated for the purpose of this lab. Observe your chosen animals at the zoo and develop questions about your chosen adaptation of these animals. Based on your questions, formulate a hypothesis and derive testable predictions from that hypothesis. Based on your results from your experiments, write a scientific paper about your tested adaptive characteristic.
The Rio Grande Zoo is open 7 days a week from 9am-5pm. Adult admission is $7.00.
Guidelines for writing the Vertebrate Animal report: