The Agonistic Response & Observations on Betta splendens
Magnus Crooke, Dankwa Nnoma-Addison, Devin Zeiders
SSFS, 16923 Norwood Rd, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
Introduction: In this lab we measured
the effects measured the agonistic
response of our Betta fish. An
agonistic response is any social or
behavioral response related to
fighting.
Research Question: We wondered how
the size, distance and amount of time
showing the picture of the Betta
splendens affect the agonistic
response of the living Betta splendens.
Research Objective: To see if
changing the size of the fish shown
and the how long we show it changes
the agonistic response.
Null Hypothesis: The independent
variable will not change the agonistic
response of the Betta.
Results: We found that when we showed the
picture of the Betta fish one inch away from the
tank that our Betta fish stayed on alert for the
longest amount of time.
Acknowledgments: Would like to thank Alice
Chmil & Takisha Reece for providing the Betta fish,
and the Upper School Science Department.
Alternative Hypothesis: The size and
amount of time the fish is shown will
change the agonistic response.
Methods:
● We showed a living Betta
splendens a picture of a similar
splendens.
● Measured the agonistic response
of the living Betta fish.
Conclusion:
● The experiment was pretty
successful.
● The extra variable added more
work.
● Next time, we should be more
organized and put more effort
towards the experiment.
Future directions: Next time, more
controlled experiment.
Instead of having multiple variables, we
would have one.
Hypothesis: The size of the Betta shown will change the agonistic response of the Betta splendens in the tank.