Owl Pellet Lab IIName ______
7th Grade Environmental Science
Mrs. KrempaName ______
Data: Complete the following after filling out Data Table #1, Data Table #2 and Data Table #3.
(on Owl Pellet Lab I). Use one sheet of graph paper for both graphs if possible!
1. GRAPH - Group and Class AVERAGE length, width and mass graph – hand drawn. Double bar,
side by side, space between pairs (group, class) of information. 6 bars. Must have a key that explains the units for the different measurements!
2. GRAPH - Group and Class AVERAGE bone count graph – hand drawn. Double bar, side by side, space
between pairs (group, class) of information. 26 bars. Must fit on 1 side of 1 page of paper!
Data Analysis: Answer the following questions in complete sentences unless asked to list.
Watch your wording (do NOT use it, them, they) and be detailed.
Use a sheet of notebook paper if you need more room!
Do NOT start your answer with “Vole because...!”
Remember this is data analysis – almost every answer must INCLUDE DATA (numbers) and list where that data (numbers) can be found!
That means identify which graph or data table!
1. How many animals did you find in your owl pellet? What type (kind) did you find?(Include numbers!)
______
______
2. Which specific prey animal was most numerous for you and the class on average?
*Reference data table or graph!*
______
______
______
3. Did you find any evidence of organisms that were NOT rodents in the owl pellet? If so, what?
______
______
4. What specific type of bone is most prevalent in the pellets? Why? (Look at class average)
*Reference data table or graph!*
______
______
5. What bones are least likely to be found in an owl pellet? Why? (Look at class average)
*Reference data table or graph!*
______
______
6. Compare your totalnumber of prey animals for your owl pellet to the class average number of prey per
pellet. Why are your results the same or different? (think size of bones/ size of pellet, mass of pellet)
*Reference Measurement data table or graph!*
______
______
______
______
______
7. Using your information section, think about what you know about a Barn Owl’s habitatand the Barn Owl’s prey’s habitat. Briefly restate both the Barn Owl’s habitat and the prey’s habitat.
Are the habitatssimilar? Does this make sense? Why or why not? Explain.
______
______
______
______
______
8. Other birds also form pellets. If a seagull made a pellet, what would you expect to find? Why?
______
______
______
______
9. Describe the role of the owl in its environment (i.e. its niche) and its place in the food web. Is it an herbivore or carnivore? Is it a producer, primary consumer…
______
______
______
______
______
10. Draw a food chain based on what you found in your owl pellet. Include all prey animals found in your pellet. Meaning - if different prey organisms were found, make a food web! Remember to start with a producer – use your information section paragraph #3 to help…
Data Analysis: This question will be the main “big”Data Analysisquestion!
Follow the directions and break down of paragraphs carefully!
This question must be typed, 12 point (Times New Roman) font and double (or 1.5) spaced.
Paragraph #1– Compare your group pellet measurements to the class average pellet measurements.
Were the size and mass of the class’s pellets similar? Were there any outliers?
Did you have a big pellet, small pellet or average sized pellet compared to
the class results?
Do you think all the pellets came from the same type of owl? Why or why not?
*With each (or every couple of) comparison(s) there is (are) a direct reference to a data table or graph.
Example: The class average for mass was 23 grams (Data Table #2) our group result was 10 grams (Data Table #1). Our result washalf that of the class…
Paragraph #2- Group bones that are close (2 or less bones apart) in number. List EACH (skull,
mandible, femur…) group bone number compared to each class average bone number. With each (or every couple of) comparison(s) there is (are) a direct reference to a data table or graph.
Example: Our group found 1 skull (Data Table #1). The class on average found 3 skulls (Data Table #2). Our results were two bones lower compared to the class…
Paragraph #3 - Group bones that are far apart (greater than 2) in number. List EACH (skull,
mandible, femur…) group bone number compared to each class average bone number. With each (or every couple of) comparison(s) there is (are) a direct reference to a data table or graph.
Example: Our group found 12 humerus (Data Table #1). The class on average found 6 humerus (Data Table #2). Our results were 6 bones higher (double!)than the class.
Paragraph #4 - Overall, look at the trends between your numbers and class numbers. OVERALL,
do you have more OR less bones than the class on average? (Are you always higher than the class when you compare? Lower?) Is there a pattern at all? If there is a pattern,(you are always higher / lower) why do you think that happened?
*Think about the size of bones compared to other groups, size of pellet, mass of pellet
**CONCLUSION SECTION INSTRUCTIONS ON THE BACK **
Conclusion: Answer the following questions in paragraph form. You will be following the RERUN
strategy from your Scientific Method packet. Include your thoughts, ideas and comments.
This should be very personal, it can be written in first person… I should hear YOU talking to me when I read the last paragraph! Support your answers with your lab results! A * means you need to include actual number results (data) and tell where in the lab you found your data (numbers).
That means identify which graph or data table you used!
This question must be typed, 12 point (Times New Roman) font and double (or 1.5) spaced.
R = Re-state the purpose of the lab. (copy & rephrase purpose from the 1st page of the lab!)
Why did we do this lab (what unit are we studying in class)?
~ Hint it has NOTHING to do with bones, Owls or their vomit!!
E = Explain (summarize) lab procedures. This is a BRIEF summary without results!
Do NOT re-write all 33 steps!
DO NOT include drawing graphs or answering questions – only summarize what you physically did when you were in the lab with the equipment in your hands!
R = Report Results - Briefly restate your overall results.
Include…
~ How many organism(s) you found compared to the class.
(these will be the ONLY data (numbers) used in the conclusion!!)
~ What kind of organism(s)?
~ Was your pellet bigger or smaller than most?
~ Explain why your number of prey is different / same
*Think aboutthe size ofbones compared to other groups, size of pellet, mass of pellet
*List numbers to support your answer & identify which graph / data table you used!
U = Uncertainties or errors – Provide and EXPLAIN AL LEAST three (3) factors that could have
affected the actual results of your lab. (Explain why all of the results for the Owl Pellet Lab are different - why the bone count results are or arenot close to each other)
Include human error AND any possible flaws in lab design and explain how / why those reasons could affect the bone count. (What variables couldn’t be controlled?) Then include how those factors could be “fixed” or avoided(make your experimental design better).
~ Look to the measurement data table or graph for some clues!
~ Think about the size of your bones / pellet compared to the size of other groups
~ Think about how many organisms you found compared to the class on average
~ Think about possible sources of error (things you could have done wrong or could
have happened to mess with your results)
Example: There are many reasons why our bone count did not match the class on average.
One reason is MMMM. Our MMMM is much larger than the class which would cause us to have more bones than a group with a smaller MMMM.
N = New things you discovered, extensions -Describe at least two or more new ideas, information
or knowledge that you learned from the Owl Pellet Lab.
DO NOT tell me you learned how to do a lab, use the equipment, draw a graph…
DO go into all of the interesting and personal things that happened – Anything personal,
funny, what you thought was icky or cool… your personal feelings, questions, insights & thoughts about the lab and how it went.
I should hear YOU talking to me when I read this section!