In-class assignment 3 (Week 3) Name Katlin Radakovich

10 points Section Biolit 39

Group Member Names Afton Pratt
Emilee Prifogle

Part I.

1. Annotate (label with the letter and circle on the graph) one of the following two figures: (1.5 pt)
a. The label(s) of treatment(s) with young wolf spiders within the enclosures. All of the
treatments: predation spiders, risk spiders and adult wolf spiders removed
b. The treatment with adult wolf spiders capable of eating prey. Columns labelled
P/Predation spiders
c. The error bar associated with the treatment corresponding to the removal of adult wolf
spiders. Error bar B

Figure 1. Effects of wolf spider manipulation on densities of (a) sheetweb spiders and (c) plant- and leafhoppers at
the end of the experiment (individuals per enclosure; P = predation spiders, R = risk spiders and 0 = adult wolf
spiders removed; Bars with different letters are significantly different, p<0.05.)

Part II. Pause! Your BioLit Instructor will explain the first figure interpretation after the demonstration.

Fig 1a: There were significantly fewer sheetweb spiders in the predation spider and risk spider treatments
relative to the spiders removed treatment. There was no significant difference in the number of sheetweb
spiders between predation and risk spider treatments.

1. Annotate the figure interpretation above (1 pt)

a. Highlight in green all mentions of the dependent variable. Sheetweb spiders, plant and
leafhoppers
b. Highlight in yellow all mentions of the treatment groups. Predation spiders, Risk
spiders and Adult wolf spiders removed

2. Interpret figure 1c (Hint! Look at Fig 1a interpretation above OR reference your instructor’s
interpretation). Mention the independent and dependent variables, the direction of difference
between treatments, and whether differences were significant. (3 pts)

The independent variable is the treatment groups: predation spiders, risk spiders and adult
wolf spiders are removed. The dependent variable is the plant and leafhoppers for graph C. There
In-class assignment 3 (Week 3) Name Katlin Radakovich
10 points Section Biolit 39
Group Member Names Afton Pratt
Emilee Prifogle

were significantly more plants and leafhoppers in the predation spider and risk spider treatments
relative to the spiders removed treatment. There was no significant difference in the number of
plant and leafhoppers between predation and risk spider treatments.

3. Do the results above support the authors’ hypotheses below? (yes/no) (1.5 pts)
a. Wolf spiders have a negative effect on other predators.
yes

b. If wolf spiders are present, then they will reduce the number of herbivorous plant- and
leafhoppers.
no

c. Risk wolf spiders have smaller effects on other arthropods than predation wolf spiders.
no

4. In a different experiment, researchers determined that extremely hot temperatures make the adult
wolf spiders significantly less active than in the cooler conditions of the experiment you read about.
Assume that other arthropods are not affected by the new conditions.

a. Write a hypothesis for how the plant and leafhopper densities would be affected under the
new extremely hot and dry conditions. (1 pt)

Under extremely hot and dry conditions, the plant and leafhopper densities would
decrease due to the inactivity of the adult wolf spiders.

b. Generate a graph of predicted results (or describe with words) based on youandr
hypothesis from above. (1 pt)

Cooler/Wetter Conditions Hotter/Drier Conditions

The graph above would have all three treatment groups at the same
level. They would all be between 0 and 1 and have no significant difference between one another.
In-class assignment 3 (Week 3) Name Katlin Radakovich
10 points Section Biolit 39
Group Member Names Afton Pratt
Emilee Prifogle

c. Explain your predicted results. (0.5 pts)

We are predicting that since the adult wolf spiders are inactive, they would take on
the same role of the spiders removed treatment group. This means the density of plant and
leafhoppers would decrease.

5. Which of the following learning objectives was NOT addressed on this assignment? (0.5 pts)
a. Explain the purpose of each treatment and control group
b. Interpret a graph, including statistical significance, direction and magnitude of effect
c. Determine whether data support or refute a hypothesis
d. Generate a graph of predicted results based on a hypothesis