Introduction
Emperor penguins huddle together to survive in the freezing Antarctic with mild temperatures under -70oC. (figure 1). When the huddling procedure is used, the heat is transferred between penguins and half the amount of energy is required survive. • The huddling process of penguins are classified as a population as they are one type of species working together in the same area. (Gordon,2013). These huddling processes are affected by both abiotic and biotic factors. Abiotic factors that non-living of the environment and effect the living organisms in both surviving and reproducing. Abiotic factors that contribute are water, temperature and sunlight availability for the penguins. Biotic factors are living organisms that impact …show more content…
•Conduction is when heat moves from one to another penguin around the huddle. Convection is described as when less dense and hot air rises, penguins huddle together into compacted groups to stop the hot air rising into the cold air above. Another process is known to be radiation which is the heat reflected from the sun, the penguins trap the heat from the sun. (BBC,2014)
The amount of heat available for the penguin is dependent on its position in the crowd. Which is what this experiment investigated but due to unavailability of penguins in the lab they were substituted with test tubes. The aim of the experiment was to measure the benefits of huddling behaviour that may confer to the penguin population as opposed to non-cooperative behaviour.
The hypothesis was if the test tube is moved to the centre of the huddle then there would be less heat loss in the test tube. The independent variable was the position of the test tube in the huddle. This was changed by test tubes being located at three positions; edge & centre of the huddle and isolated. The dependent variable was the temperature change in the test tube which was measured using a thermometer after one minute intervals. Constant variable were the number of test tubes (15), temperature of initial water, amount of ice (1/4 cup), amount of water (15ml) and amount of time test tubes observed for (10 …show more content…
In order to comment on the reliability, the experiment could be repeated with the same method as above increasing the sample size and comparison can be done. The experiment was valid due to it measured what it was supposed to; the temperature decrease according to the position of the test tube as presented by the two graphs and tables. Although it can be increased by changing the method by increasing the number of test tubes, including more positions and increasing the time of measuring the temperature could be increased.
There were weakness in the experiment which were all the limitations done because the experiment doesn’t represent the penguin huddling as discussed in the limitations section.
The strengths of the experiment was group work and which allowed the group to complete collect the results in the time limit. Also the method was modified by putting in ice in the beaker as stated in the method. This replicated the penguin huddling environment as they stand on ice.
Emperor penguins huddle together to survive in the freezing Antarctic with mild temperatures under -70oC. (figure 1). When the huddling procedure is used, the heat is transferred between penguins and half the amount of energy is required survive. • The huddling process of penguins are classified as a population as they are one type of species working together in the same area. (Gordon,2013). These huddling processes are affected by both abiotic and biotic factors. Abiotic factors that non-living of the environment and effect the living organisms in both surviving and reproducing. Abiotic factors that contribute are water, temperature and sunlight availability for the penguins. Biotic factors are living organisms that impact …show more content…
•Conduction is when heat moves from one to another penguin around the huddle. Convection is described as when less dense and hot air rises, penguins huddle together into compacted groups to stop the hot air rising into the cold air above. Another process is known to be radiation which is the heat reflected from the sun, the penguins trap the heat from the sun. (BBC,2014)
The amount of heat available for the penguin is dependent on its position in the crowd. Which is what this experiment investigated but due to unavailability of penguins in the lab they were substituted with test tubes. The aim of the experiment was to measure the benefits of huddling behaviour that may confer to the penguin population as opposed to non-cooperative behaviour.
The hypothesis was if the test tube is moved to the centre of the huddle then there would be less heat loss in the test tube. The independent variable was the position of the test tube in the huddle. This was changed by test tubes being located at three positions; edge & centre of the huddle and isolated. The dependent variable was the temperature change in the test tube which was measured using a thermometer after one minute intervals. Constant variable were the number of test tubes (15), temperature of initial water, amount of ice (1/4 cup), amount of water (15ml) and amount of time test tubes observed for (10 …show more content…
In order to comment on the reliability, the experiment could be repeated with the same method as above increasing the sample size and comparison can be done. The experiment was valid due to it measured what it was supposed to; the temperature decrease according to the position of the test tube as presented by the two graphs and tables. Although it can be increased by changing the method by increasing the number of test tubes, including more positions and increasing the time of measuring the temperature could be increased.
There were weakness in the experiment which were all the limitations done because the experiment doesn’t represent the penguin huddling as discussed in the limitations section.
The strengths of the experiment was group work and which allowed the group to complete collect the results in the time limit. Also the method was modified by putting in ice in the beaker as stated in the method. This replicated the penguin huddling environment as they stand on ice.