path: root/poster/methods.tex

To start the procedure on must first obtain the materials.
Once materials are obtained the 160 ants can be kept in one of the 6 inch plastic containers, then 200 grams of sand was poured into each of the 40 remaining six inch containers.
Next, each of the 40 antlions (myrmeleon immaculatus) was placed in one of the plastic containers containing sand, with each antlion getting its own container.
Following this each noticeable antlion pit was given two ants as food once every week, starting the friday after the antlions were introduced to their temporary containers.
Then, the remaining amount of sand was placed into the 32x32 container and spread out using a meter stick until the surface of the sand was level.
Next, a meter stick was used to mark the sides of the 32x32 container with inch markers starting from the bottom right of the container on its lid.
Much like a coordinate plane, marks were made one inch apart going vertically from the bottom of the lid of the container and subsequently labeled with their position away from the bottom of the box in inches, this acted as the y-axis.
After this, marks were made one inch apart going horizontally from the right most section of the lid of the container and subsequently labeled with their position away from the right of the box in inches, this functioned as the x-axis.
Next, the 2 inch cup was placed at the center of the container and buried under 3cm of sand.
After this 4 antlions were introduced to the container every 24 hours until 30 antlions had been introduced, starting at 3:30 pm.
This was done by using the sieve to obtain four random antlions from their temporary containers and place them on the center of the container, where the plastic cup was.
Antlions were moved by using the sieve to remove the antlion from its six inch holding container.
As new antlion pits appeared toothpicks were inserted next to them to signify their presence.
Following the introduction of all 31 antlions a 24 settling period was allotted, after which the location of each antlion was measured using the grid system created earlier.
Following this a program was used to find the nearest neighbor and a ruler was used to find the pit depth and width in cm.
After data was taken the antlions were transferred back to their temporary containers by using a sieve to obtain the antlions from pits, where they were later placed in their temporary containers, dead antlions were kept in a freezer.
Following this a barrier was inserted to reduce the available space to 24x23 inches using cardboard dividers and sealed using making tape, to prevent antlions from escaping the enclosure.
After this another hour introductory period every 24 hours was repeated, will all remaining antlions, as some died in the previous trial.
Once all antlions were introduced another 24 hour settling period was allocated and pit depth, width and location were found using the same methods as above, and the antlions were returned to their temporary containers.
Following this the area of the box was reduced to 16x15 inches and all antlions were again introduced, 4 every 24 hours until all remaining antlions were placed in the pit.
Then another 24 hour settlement period was allotted and all data was collected the same was as the previous two trials, and the antlions were returned to their temporary containers.
Lastly, the area of the box was reduced to 8x7 inches and all antlions were again introduced, 4 every 24 hours until all remaining antlions were placed in the pit.
Then another 24 hour settlement period was allotted and all data was collected the same was as the previous three trials, and the antlions were returned to their enclosures.
To further understand the relevance of the study, the species of the antlions were examined through DNA barcoding.
Using  min PCR and a gel barcoding system the antlion DNA was extracted, and used a strand of mitochondrial DNA, cytochrome C in order to identify the antlions using a national protein database.
The observed genus and species was Myrmeleon Immaculatus.