Dancing Under the Moonlight A Mathematecal Modeling Approach to Foraging Octracod
Date of Award
2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Yildirim, Necmettin
Keywords
Ostracod, Modeling: Foraging
Area of Concentration
Biology
Abstract
Ostracods are a widespread crustacean that in certain species produce bioluminescence and have a relationship with cycles of the moon. By setting traps to sample the foraging population, and finding the rate of foraging, I investigate the relationship between the lunar cycle and ostracod foraging activity, using experimental data collected at Cayos Cochinos, Honduras from July 15 to July 28 in 2010. I observed that there is a relatively strong correlation between the lunar cycle and ostracod foraging activity. A mathematical model is developed to describe this relationship further. With the model, I am able to describe how the lunar cycle can play a role in turning non-foraging populations to foraging populations, and vice-versa.
Recommended Citation
Correa, John, "Dancing Under the Moonlight A Mathematecal Modeling Approach to Foraging Octracod" (2011). Theses & ETDs. 4365.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4365