PROPOSAL

SUBJECT: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

NAME:

WARI SOPHANODORN

SUPITCHAYA RAKSAKAEO

ARISARA RATSAMEWESARAT

APICHAYA ASAWATUNGSATHIAN

SASITHORN NOTKLAO

PROFESSOR:

MISS CHARLENE CUNNINGHAM

 Introduction

Cavy, pronounced “kay-vee”, is the official name of guinea pigs. (petguineapigcare,n.d.)

Guinea pigs originate from South America. They are domesticated by the local to use as food until the

Spanish introduced them, then their popularity starts to increase as a pet. In the 1920s guinea pigs are

used in the scientific experiment and they play an important role as a medical animal experiment.

Guinea pigs are one of the most popular pet that many people would like to buy. Guinea pigs are

cuddly, comical, and clever. Guinea pigs do not live as long as other pets, which lives around five to

seven years or longer. They are very social animals, which means that they are always happy when

they stay with each other. However, sometimes different individuals might not able to get along in a

community. For habitat, guinea pigs require a lot of space, especially in pairs or group. Guinea pigs

are easy to tame by getting a treat or attention with gentle touching. At first, most of the guinea pigs

are nervous so we should make them trust and used to people surrounding to make it feel more relax

(McLeod, 2018). Guinea pigs are quick learner by getting a treat due to their excellent senses, hearing

and smelling but not eyesight.

Guinea pigs are ​herbivores which mean they do not eat any kind of meat. (Bradford, 2015)

Having a regular supply of food will keep guinea pigs healthy and happy. Mostly, they only eat

vegetables, fruit, and grass such as kale, mustard greens, bell peppers, carrots, bananas, apples, and

blueberries. Howeve​r, too much sugar can cause digestive trouble in guinea pigs. This can lead to soft

stools, bloat, and even gastrointestinal infections. Foods that high in sugar can also make guinea pig

fat if fed too often. Moreover, ​guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, so they need to get it

from their diet. By selecting a good quality and providing fresh food is very important, another way to

provide vitamin C is adding a tablet into the water. Vitamin C is found in many foods like Cabbage,

Red and green peppers, Asparagus, Broccoli, Peas, and Tomatoes.he symptoms of scurvy show that

your guinea pig lack of Vitamin C deficiency include loss of appetite, bleeding from the gums, joint

stiffness, general lethargy, weight loss, poor tooth development, and nasal discharge(Drs.Foster, n.d.).
 In this project, two guineas will be guided to run on a maze to test on the effect of their diet

and on their performance in the maze. One will be fed by bell pepper, another will be fed a normal

diet such as carrot, water spinach, and watermelon. The purpose of this experiment is to see how well

guinea pig performance to solve in the maze after one eating bell pepper. So that we will observe and

measure by time, body language, mistake. Moreover, we might apply to method into a daily life to

train guinea pigs.

 Literature Review

Source#1: 5 Foods Your Guinea Pig Loves.

The site provides an answer to the question “What can guinea pig eat?”. It is stated that

guinea pig loves grass, pellets, sweet pepper, carrot, orange and apples. Apples are guinea pig’s

favorite fruit and guinea pig should be fed a small piece of apple daily. The information is supported

by an article called “​A guinea pig’s life in the wild” by Miller ​which states that guinea pig diet is

vegetarian (n.d). But the statement that guinea pig should be fed a small piece of apple daily is

contrasted by an article called “​Guinea Pig Food List” (n.d)​. It is stated that guinea pig can eat apples

but only in moderation. The statement is supported by the source: “​Not all veggies are created equal”

which include that feeding too much guinea pig sugar can be harmful (n.d). It can lead to a digestive

system problem, soft stools, bloat, gastrointestinal infections, and obesity. Apple is a fruit that

contains high sugar. ​We decided that the source: Guinea Pig Food List is more persuasive because it is

supported by another source. While preparing our guinea pigs for the experiment, we will not feed

them too many apples or other sugary fruits even though it is what they like the most because it can

make them sick.

Source#2: ​List of Foods & Plants that are Poisonous or Dangerous for Guinea Pigs.

The information from this site provides important information we need to take care of our

guinea pigs and to decide on our variables. The most dangerous food is chocolate. Food that is

harmful to guinea pig is grain, nuts, and meat of any type. This article is supported by an article called

“​A guinea pig’s life in the wild” by Miller which stated that guinea pig’s diet is vegetarian.

Therefore, they can’t eat any meat. There a​re no sources we use that contrast with this article. Before

and during the experiment, we will make sure that we will not feed our guinea pigs any meat or other

food that is harmful to them.

Source#3: Guinea pig nutrition (Sep 6, 2018)

This article provides information we need to take care of our guinea pigs. Also, it helps us

understand guinea pig’s nutrition needs and helps us decide which kind of food will be used for the

experiment. The information about vitamin C is supported by several articles which are “ Feeding

Guinea Pigs. Providing a Good Cavy Diet.” By ​Lianne McLeod (01/21/19). “Vitamin C for guinea

pigs” (n.d.) and “ Guinea Pig Vitamin C Requirements” (n.d.) All ​articles agree that vitamin C is very

important for guinea pigs. The article by Mcleod also provides further information that guinea pigs

cannot produce vitamin C by themselves. The other two articles provide signs and danger of vitamin

C deficiency. For example​, fatigue, connective tissue weakness, frail blood vessels and teeth to loosen

or fall out. ​All of the sources we used to research vitamin C supports this article. Therefore, this article

is reliable. We will use this information to decide on the food we will use for the experiment and we

will make sure that our guinea pigs get enough vitamin C to keep them healthy.

Source#4: ​Vitamin C for guinea pigs (n.d.)

This article provides us with information on the amount of vitamin C guinea pigs need daily.

Which are, ​10-30 mg/kg a day. It states that excess vitamin C is sent out of the body through the urine

and that vitamin C deficiency can be dangerous. It also mentions that too much vitamin C can cause

diarrhea but it is hard for guinea pigs to overdose on vitamin C since it can tolerate vitamin C very

well. The information their claim that “​guinea pigs need daily. Which are, ​10-30 mg/kg a day.” which

is not too much or too little. We will use this information in our experiment. We will not feed our

guinea pigs too much or too little vitamin C and make sure it gets vitamin C daily.

According to the sources, Vitamin C is very important to guinea pig since they cannot

produce it on their own. ​Fatigue is one of the symptoms caused by the lack of Vitamin C. If we give it

to our guinea pigs, it could make them less tried, more energetic and excited to run the maze. There

are studies on human about the cognitive benefits of vitamin C. Vitamin C have many roles in the

human brain which are, a cofactor in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and cofactor in an enzyme

reaction. Guinea pigs have biological similarities to human so we want to see if vitamin C will have
the same effect on guinea pigs and help their performance in the maze. We will feed one of the guinea

pigs with bell pepper because it has a lot of Vitamin C.

 Materials

● Pencil

● Cover

● Scissor

● Ruler

● Glue

● Tape

● Cardboard

● Food: Bell pepper

● Guinea pig
 Methodology

Maze design

The design of the maze that guinea pig needs to be fit in properly and the size that we need to design

by measuring the size of guinea pig. The information of the rat maze can be used to adapt the guinea

pig maze from their behavior and style. Base on rat maze we have 6 of the maze that can adjust.

The Classical maze

- The maze consists of a large platform with a series of vertical walls and a transparent ceiling

The T-maze

- The design is to make the rat walks forward and chooses the left or right arm of the maze.

The Multiple T-maze

- This maze is the transform from T-maze that combine to be multiple T-maze together and ​ it

quite challenging for rats

The Y-maze

- The Y-maze is similar to the T-maze, but it has three identical arms. The Y-maze is a little

easier than a T-maze because gradual turns decrease learning time as compared to the sharp

turns of the T-maze

The radial arm maze

- The radial arm maze has a center platform with eight, twelve, or sixteen spokes radiating out

from a central core

The Morris water maze

- The Morris water maze a large round tub of opaque water (made white with powdered milk)

with two small hidden platforms located 1-2 cm under the water's surface. The rat is placed on

a start platform. The rat swims around until it finds the other platform to stand on.
Conclusion of the maze

Our group chooses to do the multiple - T maze from the observation that the classical maze is much

harder and test their performance of skills that guinea pig have. Classical maze includes the more

ways for a guinea pig to go and if they choose the wrong way they might go back to the starting point,

but for T maze guinea pig need to choose only left or right and walk forward to reach their

destination.
Literature review on methodology

In the experiment, the independent variable is the Sweet peppers.

According to guineapigcare.com.au guinea pigs cannot create its own vitamin

c. And because there is more vitamin c in the green and red sweet peppers, so

in the experiment, we will feed one of them daily with green and red sweet

peppers.

The maze types that we are going to use is the multiple T maze

because it can tell not only the time we recorded but also the time they make

mistake. The multiple T maze can show a clear right-wrong decision which is

easier to record as data.

 Experiment design procedure

step 1

● layout a flat piece of cardboard to use as the mazes floor

● choose a piece of the large cardboard to increase the maze area
● attach two pieces of cardboard together with glue or tape

step 2

● Cut cardboard the same length and width.

● Glue the maze floor and the strips around the perimeter to create the structures

step 3

● draw a design for the labyrinth on the maze lure

● include the divergent paths and dead ends to challenge the guinea pig

step 4

● cut additional high cardboard strips and glue them over

● design and decorate the maze with construction paper stickers or markers give the project a
personal touch

​step 5

● cut high cardboard strips size

● use as barriers that fit tightly in the path of the beginning and end of the maze push them
down into the paths to c​reate separate start and finish pens
 Data Collection and Limitations

- We will measure the learning behavior by 3 things

1. Time

2. Body Language (Ex. stress)

3. Number of mistakes

- Problems that we may have

1. Every time will be different

2. Too long

Time of Experiment

Date Work Plan

After www Building maze (1-1.5 weeks)

n.d. Experiment

n.d. Data

n.d. Filming

Before April Break Video and Reflection

Conclusion

In this project, we are doing an experiment about guinea pig maze using bell pepper. We will

do this experiment to study about their behavior and how fast can it take for them to complete the

maze.
 References

Alina Bradford, L. S. (2015, April 28). Retrieved from

https://www.livescience.com/50658-guinea-pig-facts.html

Lianne McLeod, D. (2018, 12 31). ​Having Guinea Pigs as Pets​. Retrieved from thesprucepets:

https://www.thesprucepets.com/about-guinea-pigs-1238899

https://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=790

Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff. (n.d.). Retrieved from:

https://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=790

Petguineapigcare (n.d.). Retrieved from:​http://petguineapigcare.com/

Guinea pigs are one of the most popular pet that many people would like to buy.
Our project focuses on the impact of food on guinea pig’s learning ability. First we did a research on

guinea pig’s behavior to find out how to train them and make them feel comfortable around human.

We found information on classical conditioning and we decided to use it in our experiment. First, we

will leave food for guinea pig and back away so they are not scared to eat. As time goes by, we will

stand near them while they are eating and finally, if they are comfortable enough, we will feed them

using our hands. We use classical ​conditioning to associate our presence with food and the

feeling of happiness after they get food. So the guinea pigs learn that they will get food if we

are near them. After they feel safe around us, the next step is to figure out our experiment.

First, we did research on guinea pigs’ diet. We ​found that guinea pigs are herbivores. ​Which

mean they do not eat any ​meat.​ We also found that ​too much sugar is harmful to them​. So we

decided that the food that we will use in the experiment can’t be​ fruits ​since they have too

much sugar. We found that ​guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C, so they need to

get it from their diet. We also found a link between vitamin C and learning ability in human

so we wonder if it would work the same way in guinea pigs. We chose bell pepper as an

independent variable because it contains a lot of vitamin C.

Maze

We did research on different type of mazes. Like ​Classical maze, T-maze, Multiple T-maze,

radial arm maze, Y-maze and Morris water maze. We decided that the multiple T-maze

would be the best fit to measure learning ability and memory. Here is the initial maze design.

Then we make some changes. Here is the final maze design.

In this project, two guineas will be guided to run on a maze to test on the effect of

their on their performance in the maze. One will be fed by bell pepper, another will be fed a

normal diet such as carrot, broccoli, cauliflower and other vegetables. The purpose of this
experiment is to see how well guinea pig performance to solve in the maze after one eating

bell pepper. So that we will observe and measure by time, body language, mistake. Moreover,

we might apply to method into a daily life to train guinea pigs.

Our group chooses to do the multiple - T maze from the observation that the classical

maze is much harder and test their performance of skills that guinea pig have. Classical maze

includes the more ways for a guinea pig to go and if they choose the wrong way they might

go back to the starting point, but for T maze guinea pig need to choose only left or right and

walk forward to reach their destination.

DATA

Trial 1

Mootoo = 2 minutes 53 seconds

Fluffy = 20 seconds

Trial 2

Mootoo = 7 minutes 56 seconds

Fluffy = 24 seconds

Trail 3

Mootoo = 6 minutes 57 seconds (3 mistakes)

Fluffy = 27 seconds (1 mistakes)

Trail 4

Mootoo = 57 seconds (5 mistakes)

Fluffy = 23 seconds (1 mistakes)

Guinea pig Trial#1 Trial#2 Trial#3 Trial#4 Trial#5

Eat bell Time: 27 Time: 23 sec Time: 31 sec Time: 32 sec Time: 35 sec
pepper sec Mistakes: 1 Mistakes: 2 Mistakes: 2 Mistakes: 2
 Mistakes: 1

Didn’t eat Time: 6 min Time: 57 sec Time 1 min Time: 1 min Time: 1 min
bell pepper 57 sec Mistakes: 5 33 sec Mistakes: 2 27 sec
Mistakes: 3 Mistakes: 1 Mistake: 2
*She spends
most of the
time staying
still
10x10

อัดเสียง*

In conclusion, The guinea pig that eat bell pepper perform better in the maze. It made fewer

mistakes and took less time to complete the maze. The result. from the experiment support

our hypothesis.
To minimize the usage of the cardboard box.

Hypothesis.

Operant conditioning. Positive means you are adding something, and negative means you are

taking something away. Reinforcement means you are increasing a behavior, and punishment

means you are decreasing a behavior. Reinforcement can be positive or negative, and

punishment can also be positive or negative. We use Positive Reinforcement. At the end of

the maze, there will be some food and safe place for them if they able to achieve their goal.

Write 1 paragraph answering this question (below)

Based on what you learned, what can you predict about other

animals.

Part 1 (3 minutes+)

*Things we learned in class____

*Classical/operant
*Research proposal

Research question

Research

How you decide what you would do?

In class we learned about classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning ​refers ​to a ​learning​ procedure in which a biologically potent ​stimulus​ is

paired with a previously neutral stimulus.

Operant conditioning is ​ a method of ​learning​ that occurs through rewards and

punishments for behavior. There are positive/negative reinforcement and

positive/negative punishment. ​Positive means you are adding something, and negative

means you are taking something away. Reinforcement means you are increasing a behavior,

and punishment means you are decreasing a behavior. Reinforcement can be positive or

negative, and punishment can also be positive or negative.

Our research proposal consists of introduction, literature review, materials, methodology​,

maze design and references.

Our research question is How can food ( bell pepper ) improve the memorization of the

guinea pig.

We did a research on guinea pigs’ learning ability and their diets.

We ​found that guinea pigs are herbivores. ​Which mean they do not eat any ​meat.​ We also
found that ​too much sugar is harmful to them​. So we decided that the food that we will use in
the experiment can’t be​ fruits ​since they have too much sugar. We found that ​guinea pigs
cannot produce their own vitamin C, so they need to get it from their diet. ​So we choose bell
pepper ​as an independent variable because it contains a lot of vitamin C.
We found a link between vitamin C and learning ability in human so we wonder if it would
work the same way in guinea pigs.
Part 2 (3 minutes+)

*Experiment

Classical conditioning

-How we use it in the experiment

Operant conditioning

-How we use it in the experiment

Building maze

By making the maze, we use glue gun, cutter, scissor, cardboard, paper color, glue, pencil ,

and guinea pig

First, ​layout a flat piece of cardboard to use as the mazes floor then choose a piece of
the large cardboard to increase the maze area and attach two pieces of cardboard
together with glue or tape. Next, cut cardboard the same length and width. Glue the
maze floor and the strips around the perimeter to create the structures.Third step,

draw a design for the labyrinth on the maze lure which include the divergent paths and dead
ends to challenge the guinea pig

Then ​cut additional high cardboard strips and glue them over. Design and decorate the maze
with construction paper stickers or markers give the project a personal touch

Lastly,cut high cardboard strips size use as barriers that fit tightly in the path of the
beginning and end of the maze push them down into the paths to c​reate separate start
and finish.

Our group chooses to do the multiple - T maze from the observation that the classical maze is

much harder and test their performance of skills that guinea pig have. Classical maze includes
the more ways for a guinea pig to go and if they choose the wrong way they might go back to

the starting point, but for T maze guinea pig need to choose only left or right and walk

forward to reach their destination. We will measure the learning behavior by 3 things

Time, Body Language (Ex. stress), Number of mistakes

We use classical conditioning to reduce our guinea pigs’ fear of humans by using food. First,

we will leave food for guinea pig and back away so they are not scared to eat. As time goes

by, we will stand near them while they are eating and finally, if they are comfortable enough,

we will feed them using our hands. We use classical conditioning to associate our presence

with food and the feeling of happiness after they get food. So the guinea pigs learn that they

will get food if we are near them

We use operant conditioning, positive Reinforcement, in the process of training them to run

the maze. At the end of the maze, there will be some food and safe place for them if they able

to achieve their goal.

Part 3 (4 minutes+)

*Result

Data

-Data table (type result out)

Explain what it means

-Did vitamin C in bell pepper help?

Hypothesis
Here is our hypothesis: Because bell peppers have high level of vitamin C. If we feed the

guinea pig with bell peppers, then their advantage of learning and remember of pathway in

maze will be quicker. Our hypothesis is supported by the experiment. The guinea pig that ate

bell pepper perform better than another guinea pig.The challenge that we have faced was at

the first time guinea pig feel strength with the maze so it require a lot of them to feel used to

with it.

Data: The guinea pig that ate bell pepper take less time to get to the end of the maze in every

trial. For the number of mistakes. In trial 1 and 2, the guinea pig that eat bell pepper make

less mistake than the guinea pig that didn’t. But in the first trial, the guinea pig that didn’t eat

bell pepper spend most of the time standing still and took 6 minutes to complete the maze.

We did the experiment it the hallway. There are a lot of people around the maze and it can be

noisy. It could scare the guinea pig and make the guinea pig decide to stay inside because it

feels safer in there. In trial 3, the guinea pig that eat bell pepper make more mistakes. We

figured it could be because the guinea pig is not motivated to complete the maze. We left

carrots inside the box after they complete the maze and it has already eaten a lot. It took more

time to complete the maze than the first 2 trials. Because In trial 4 and 5. The guinea pigs

made the same amount of mistakes. Which is 2 mistakes. The result shows that there is a

correlation between guinea pigs’ vitamin C intake and their performance in running the maze.

But the result could be affected by many different factors like noises, temperature or the

guinea pigs’ fear.

Guinea pig Trial#1 Trial#2 Trial#3 Trial#4 Trial#5

Eat bell Time: 27 sec Time: 23 sec Time: 31 sec Time: 32 sec Time: 35 sec
pepper Mistakes: 1 Mistakes: 1 Mistakes: 2 Mistakes: 2 Mistakes: 2

Didn’t eat Time: 6 min Time: 57 sec Time 1 min Time: 1 min Time: 1 min
bell pepper 57 sec Mistakes: 5 33 sec Mistakes: 2 27 sec
Mistakes: 3 Mistakes: 1 Mistake: 2
*She spends
most of the
time staying
still

Hypothesis
Because bell peppers have high level of vitamin C. If we feed the guinea pig with bell

peppers, then their advantage of learning and remember of pathway in maze will be quicker.