Introduction
Hemicentetes semispinosus is a species of tenrecs found on Madagascar that possess black and yellow quills. The trait of the species that is believed to be an adaptation are the quills because the length of the quills vary by 8-15mm (Cho et al. 2012), are barbed and can be detachable, which could indicate that it is used for defense against predators, such as viverrids, owls and boas (Eisenberg & Gould, 1970). Their behaviour also suggests that it is used as a line of defense because when disturbed, they erect their quills, then Hemicentetes semispinosus may try to impale the disturbance by bobbing their head while moving forward. (Marshall & Eisenberg 1996)
Similar to Hemicentetes semispinosus, porcupines also have barbed quills, …show more content…
How this would be measured would be to record if the predator tested attacks Hemicentetes semispinosus.
The controls of the experiment are that all the species would be tested in the same controlled environment, such as an outdoor enclosure. Ideally, the different Hemicentetes semispinosus would be appear similar in terms of size. In addition, the short and average quill groups would also have the same adhesive on their quills, as the long quill group, so their behaviour would be the most similar to each other if the adhesive does change their behaviour. Lastly, the same predator would be used.
Using a similar method by Brant and Mahsberg (2002), I will collect as many Hemicentetes semispinosus so I can have a reliably amount of data, and then split the Hemicentetes semispinosus into the three groups, with the needed modifications depending on the group. In addition, I will catch one of the predator of the species to test. I will then use an outdoor enclosure, and first introduce the predator to the environment so that it becomes familiar to the new environment. Then I will place one of the Hemicentetes semispinosusis into the enclosure for 2 hours, and will record if the species is attacked or not during the trial, and which group it is in (short, average or long). If the Hemicentetes semispinosusis is still alive after the trial, then it will be removed and a new Hemicentetes semispinosus will be tested. After the experiment, all surviving animals would be
Hemicentetes semispinosus is a species of tenrecs found on Madagascar that possess black and yellow quills. The trait of the species that is believed to be an adaptation are the quills because the length of the quills vary by 8-15mm (Cho et al. 2012), are barbed and can be detachable, which could indicate that it is used for defense against predators, such as viverrids, owls and boas (Eisenberg & Gould, 1970). Their behaviour also suggests that it is used as a line of defense because when disturbed, they erect their quills, then Hemicentetes semispinosus may try to impale the disturbance by bobbing their head while moving forward. (Marshall & Eisenberg 1996)
Similar to Hemicentetes semispinosus, porcupines also have barbed quills, …show more content…
How this would be measured would be to record if the predator tested attacks Hemicentetes semispinosus.
The controls of the experiment are that all the species would be tested in the same controlled environment, such as an outdoor enclosure. Ideally, the different Hemicentetes semispinosus would be appear similar in terms of size. In addition, the short and average quill groups would also have the same adhesive on their quills, as the long quill group, so their behaviour would be the most similar to each other if the adhesive does change their behaviour. Lastly, the same predator would be used.
Using a similar method by Brant and Mahsberg (2002), I will collect as many Hemicentetes semispinosus so I can have a reliably amount of data, and then split the Hemicentetes semispinosus into the three groups, with the needed modifications depending on the group. In addition, I will catch one of the predator of the species to test. I will then use an outdoor enclosure, and first introduce the predator to the environment so that it becomes familiar to the new environment. Then I will place one of the Hemicentetes semispinosusis into the enclosure for 2 hours, and will record if the species is attacked or not during the trial, and which group it is in (short, average or long). If the Hemicentetes semispinosusis is still alive after the trial, then it will be removed and a new Hemicentetes semispinosus will be tested. After the experiment, all surviving animals would be