Used in the past to provide some form of defense, a moat is an extremely deep ditch that is sometimes full of water, although not always, surrounding a building, such as a castle, or a town.
Nowadays, moats are more likely to be created because of their decorative qualities, rather than their defensive ones, and the status that they give to a place.
During zoological research of the jumping spider, which is a species of spider that is brilliantly capable of adaptation and has good eyesight too, moats were used to investigate the way in which they react when rewarded and encouraged to behave in a certain way. Some of the spiders were rewarded for swimming across the moat, whilst others were treated when they jumped first, and swam the rest of the distance.
Each group of spiders generally succeeded with what the investigators asked of it. Some of the arachnids attempted to find out, and use, the method in which they would be rewarded, whilst others stuck to using the way that they had originally used, without feeling the need to ever try and adapt, despite the treat offered.
The reason this research was undertaken was to see how spiders could work things out and how they react to particular stimuli, such as a treat. It is interesting that the challenge they were asked to take on was a moat; a symbol of protection and one that was considered to be unbreachable.
Nowadays, moats are more likely to be created because of their decorative qualities, rather than their defensive ones, and the status that they give to a place.
- Other uses for moats
- Moats and research into arachnid behavior
During zoological research of the jumping spider, which is a species of spider that is brilliantly capable of adaptation and has good eyesight too, moats were used to investigate the way in which they react when rewarded and encouraged to behave in a certain way. Some of the spiders were rewarded for swimming across the moat, whilst others were treated when they jumped first, and swam the rest of the distance.
Each group of spiders generally succeeded with what the investigators asked of it. Some of the arachnids attempted to find out, and use, the method in which they would be rewarded, whilst others stuck to using the way that they had originally used, without feeling the need to ever try and adapt, despite the treat offered.
The reason this research was undertaken was to see how spiders could work things out and how they react to particular stimuli, such as a treat. It is interesting that the challenge they were asked to take on was a moat; a symbol of protection and one that was considered to be unbreachable.
