Making a difference: Chloe's butterfly research

Recently, a young lady named Chloe came out to MOSI to conduct some research in the butterfly gardens for a science fair project concerning butterflies and their flower color preference for feeding. Her project was so excellent that I wanted to share it with my readers here. Well done, young lady! I am so proud of the work you did and I think you will make a fine lepidopterist! Reprinted with the permission of Chloe and her mom, here is the text of the project:

PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment is to see if Gulf Fritillary butterflies prefer red or white Penta plants.

HYPOTHESIS
I predict that more Gulf Fritillary butterflies will be attracted to the white Penta plants
than the red Penta plants because the white Penta plants are brighter than the red Pentas.

PROCEDURE
Materials:
1. One 180cm measuring tape
2. One sharp pencil
3. One clipboard
4. One data log/journal
5. One indoor/outdoor thermometer
6. One watch or clock
7. One gallon-sized potted red Penta plant
8. One gallon-sized potted white Penta plant.
9. Gulf Fritillary butterfly garden with 45 Gulf Fritillaries.

Variables:
1. Manipulated Variable:
--The color penta plants
2. Responding Variable:
--The number of Gulf Fritillary butterflies
3. Constant Variables:
--Time of observation
--Penta plants
--Type of butterfly observed
--Observation location

STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS
1. Gather required materials.
2. Bring materials to Museum of Science and Industry (M.O.S.I.) butterfly garden.
3. Record temperature, time, and date.
4. Place white and red Penta plants 300cm apart in the middle of butterfly garden.
5. 30 minutes into observation, record temperature and time.
6. Quietly observe butterflies, and tally mark the number of
Gulf Fritillaries that land on each color Penta plant.
7. At the end of the hour, record time and temperature.

CONCLUSION
The data I collected demonstrates that Gulf Fritillary butterflies prefer white Penta plants to red Penta plants. My original hypothesis proved correct. If I decided to conduct this research project again, I would extend the amount of butterfly observation time from 1 hour per trial, to 2 1/2 hours. By doing so, I feel the results I obtained would more strongly support my hypothesis.

RESULTS
Of the 45 Gulf Fritillary butterflies observed, a total number of 25 fed from the white Penta plant; while a total number of 8 fed from the red Penta. As a whole, the butterflies chose the white Penta three times more than the red Penta.

About the Scientist: Chloe C.
Chloe C. attends 3rd grade classes at MacFarlane Park Elementary School. A lover of butterflies and all of nature, Chloe also enjoys reading and watching Animal Planet. Her science fair project was the 3rd grade winner at the MacFarlane Park science fair and received the "Save the Planet" award at Hillsborough County Regional Science Fair. Chloe idolizes Kristen G at MOSI and hopes to someday become a lepidopterist.