April+15th

=April 15th: A-MAZE-ing Mice and Voles! =

===Yesterday I wrote about the process of setting and placing traps in the research area. I also mentioned that today I would write about what happens after we catch a mouse or vole in the trap. Well, sometimes you catch more than you're looking for...===



===This morning we went out to do the first trap check of the day and my group had two traps with their door's closed so we brought those back to the main trail to check. The other groups also brought any traps they found that had a shut door. We need to get the animals out of the traps somehow to record important data and time them as they run through a maze each group built yesterday (I will explain why later). Let's let Dr. Christina Buesching explain the proper way to get a mouse out of a trap.===

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===After weighing, sexing, and determining if the mouse or vole is pregnant, we have them go through a wooden box maze called a "timidity tray" in order to test their intelligence. It's Dr. Newman's and Dr. Buesching's hypothesis that during the winter, the less-intelligent rodents are the ones that die off. They either fail to store enough food for the winter or get picked off by predators. Therefore, at this time of year when winter is just ending, it's the smartest of the population that survive, the "cream of the crop" so to speak. The lead scientists believe that the average time of a mouse or vole completing the maze will be less than the average time of mice or voles later in the season because during the trapping months of August and September, there are young, inexperienced animals in the population so on average, they should be less intelligent and take longer to exit the timidity tray.===





=__QUESTIONS__ =

__Math questions__
===1) Today a total of 8 traps had animals in them (Mr. Wignall's group struck out once again!). Remembering that 100 traps are set, what is the fraction of traps today that had a catch? Is that fraction reduced? What percentage is that? === ===2) Actually, when we checked the traps the second time today, one of the catches was a "recatch," meaning that we had already caught that particular rodent earlier in the day and marked it. What was the fraction and percentage of "new" catches today? === ===3) During the timidity tray portions of the experiment, the times for the four mice caught in the morning were: 10 seconds, 14 seconds, 75 seconds, and 557 seconds. What was the average time through the maze for the morning mice? What is the average time if we don't include the mouse that crawled in and trembled in the corner for over 9 minutes? Should we include that time in the average or not? What's your opinion? (There is no "right" or "wrong" answer to this). ===

2) Why do you think they're called "timidity trays?" (think "timid")
===3) The theory of natural selection says that nature selects the strongest animals for reproduction and eliminates the weaker. How does Dr. Newman's and Dr. Buesching's hypothesis use the theory of natural selection as its foundation? === ===4) Mice and voles reach sexual maturity at 3 weeks and have an average life span of 12 weeks in the wild. Why is it so important for them to reach sexual maturity as soon as possible? ===

While Mr. Wignall was hunched over for four hours looking for poops, he spotted this toad. Can you spot the toad in this picture? How has the toad adapted for survival?


=__STUDENT QUESTIONS __=

" Yes i found the toad :). Was it fun doing all the adventuring this week?" (corinne g)

//It was a lot of fun so far, but today I got sunburned pretty badly. My face is all red and a little sore! We also walked about 5 miles on a trail looking for animal signs and had a lot of fun videotaping each other doing silly things. (Mr. Wignall)

"Did you let the mice or voles go after you caught them?" (Mike L)

Yup. We released them in the same place we caught them after we recorded the data we needed. (Mr. Wignall)

"Could you show me an overhead view of the maze to see what it looked like?" (Wyatt)

I think I have an overhead view somewhere. I'll look, but it might be in a video so make sure you're watching those closely we well. (Mr. Wignall)

"Can you make a youtube video of the mouse or vole going throught the maze with the top off?" (Jenna)

We can't have the mouse go through the timidity tray with the top off because it will see us all hovering around it and get scared, but just today I filmed a little bit of us removing the top to remove the vole (because it wasn't coming out) and you can see it run around that way. I'll see if I can post it this weekend! (Mr. Wignall)

"Could you show us a video of you doing silly things?" (Wyatt)

Oh Wyatt, you know I would never do anything silly. But IF I was to do something silly and IF I recorded it, I might be willing to put it on Youtube for everyone to see. That is, of course, assuming I do silly stuff, which you know I never do. (Mr. Wignall)

"Is the constant weather change driving you nuts?" (Bryan)

It did for the first two days, but since then we've had bright, sunny days for 3 daysin a row now so it's been great. (Mr. Wignall)

"What kinds of clouds were overhead today?" (Emily)

We didn't see many clouds, but the ones we did see were stratus clouds. I love your question! Thanks! (Mr. Wignall)

"Has it rained recently and has that affected your research?" (Cohl)

It hasn't rained for the last several days, but that wouldn't affect the research at all. We'd still have to go out and collect the traps and the mice would stll be looking for food, so we'd catch them despite the rain. Don't jinx us though! The weather's been great! (Mr. Wignall)

"Did youfind any bear claws?" (tyler o) p.s. by me a bear claw necklace.

No, and no. (Mr. Wignall)

(Do canadens lick you?)dylan

I haven't been licked yet, but I really haven't been around too many Canadians during the trip. Tonight we are going into town so I guess I'll find out then. I'm going to put on cologne and just cross my fingers. (Mr. Wignall)

"How many mice have you caught?" (Stephen)

We've caught two deer mice and eight voles so far. We also caught two chipmunks but didn't record anything about them for our research. They're MEAN though! (Mr. Wignall)

"How is the weather?" (Michael S.)

I just saw you on video today, Michael, so I hope you remember my answer! (Mr. Wignall)

"Have you fallen in the wilderness?" (Eli)

Yes. Many times. I don't know how it happened, but I was just standing still yesterday and ended up falling down and landing on a rock. It hurt. Bad. (Mr. Wignall)

"What is the landscape like?" (Andrew)

To be pretty honest, Andrew, if I didn't know I was in Nova Scotia I'd think I was in northern Minnesota. The only difference is that we can see the Atlantic Ocean off to the west. Other than that, it looks pretty similar. (Mr. Wignall)

"WHY ARE YOU PICKING UP POOP!?" (Ryan)

It's important to know the overall health of the animal and to use the droppings to estimate the number of animals in the area. I'd say it was fun, but that would be a lie. It's AWESOME! I love getting down and dirty outdoors and looking around for droppings with 9 other really interesting, fun teachers. (Mr. Wignall)

"What type of trap are you going to set up?" (Tyler P.)

Did you watch the video on the Longfellow trap? You should! It will answer that question far better than I can type it out. (Mr. Wignall)

"Are you going to make a movie of the mice and voles?" (Jacob)

I've made several movies of the mice and voles so far. Have you seen them? I hope so! I had a lot of fun making them. (Mr. Wignall)

"How long does it take to collect food for the mice and voles?" (Sasha)

Well, they collect their own food for the winter and store it up so they can live off of it when the ground is covered with snow. They spend most of the summer and autumn collecting and eating food. Rodents need to eat practically constantly to keep up their body temperature because they have very lttle body fat. (Mr. Wignall)

"Is there anything else you want to do out there?" (Colin)

I want to see a moose, but those are extremely rare. I'd also like to see a coyote. (Mr. Wignall)

"Do you get to go swimming and boating?" (Ben. S.)

Nope, and I don't think we'll go swimming because the water is too cold. We might go whale watching later next week, however, if we have time. That would be fun. (Mr. Wignall)

"Could you study the movement of otters if you see them and document them to help me in my study of amblucutes (the very first whale)?" (Zack S.)

Maybe. (Mr. Wignall)

"How's life out there?" (Zack A.)

Almost the same, but totally different. Know what I mean? Think about it. (Mr. Wignall)

"What are the two doctors on the exhibition doctors of?" (James H)

They both have the British equivalent of doctorates in zoology from Oxford University. Dr. Newman focuses on behavioral research and his wife, Dr. Buesching focused her studies on olfactory communication among mammals. (scents and smells). Great question, James! (Mr. Wignall)

"How is your cell phone reception out there?" (Nate Z.)

Non-existent. (Mr. Wignall)//