Materials

10 isopods in a petri dish (with a damp substrate)

Procedure

1. Place 10 isopods and a small amount of damp substrate into a petri dish. Cover the dish with the lid.

2. Observe the isopods for 10 minutes. Your goal is to observe their undisturbed behavior, so do not bump the container.

3. Make detailed notes on their general appearance, movements about the dish, and interactions with each other. Notice if they seem to prefer one area over another, if they keep moving, if they settle down, or if they move sporadically. Pay close attention to any behaviors that involve two or more isopods. Record your observations below.