Owl Pellet Owl Pellet InvestigationInvestigation

Can you identify what an owl Can you identify what an owl ate from the contents of an ate from the contents of an owl’s pellet?owl’s pellet?

QuestionQuestion

ResearchResearch Using 3 complete sentences, Using 3 complete sentences,

summarize what you learned from summarize what you learned from the research article. the research article.

HypothesisHypothesis

If I dissect an owl pellet, If I dissect an owl pellet, then…then…

ExperimentExperiment

Safety:Safety: The owl pellet you are dissecting The owl pellet you are dissecting has been dried and fumigated. It has has been dried and fumigated. It has been sterilized and does not contain any been sterilized and does not contain any disease carrying organisms.disease carrying organisms.

Make sure pellets remain on paper Make sure pellets remain on paper platesplates

Wash handsWash hands upon completion! upon completion!

ExperimentExperiment Read it….do itRead it….do it Complete data chartComplete data chart Organize the bones into groups and Organize the bones into groups and

re - construct the evidence re - construct the evidence

ProcedureProcedure 1.1. Open your owl pellet.Open your owl pellet.2.2. Observe and measure the owl pellet and Observe and measure the owl pellet and

record your record your measurementsmeasurements and and observationsobservations on your data sheet. on your data sheet.

3.3. Using your tools, gently break the owl Using your tools, gently break the owl pellet and carefully separate the bones, pellet and carefully separate the bones, skull, fur, and feathers. skull, fur, and feathers.

4.4. Organize the bones into groups and Organize the bones into groups and record the number of bones foundrecord the number of bones found. .

5.5. Use the skeleton guide to try to fit the Use the skeleton guide to try to fit the bones together to make skeletons. bones together to make skeletons.

6.6. Mount your skeleton on the card stock Mount your skeleton on the card stock provided. provided.

7.7. Identify the type of animal and give Identify the type of animal and give him/her a name. him/her a name.

CLEAN UP!CLEAN UP! Put your group # on your platesPut your group # on your plates Leave the toothpick & foil on the platesLeave the toothpick & foil on the plates Stack one plate on top of the other. Stack one plate on top of the other. Return all other materials to cart Return all other materials to cart

– Pointy probePointy probe– Blunt probeBlunt probe– TweezersTweezers– RulerRuler– Bone ChartsBone Charts

Place your group’s plates in the bottom Place your group’s plates in the bottom cabinet under the “Lab group 2” signcabinet under the “Lab group 2” sign

Wash your hands!Wash your hands!

CLEAN UP!CLEAN UP! Place your group’s plates w/ card in the bottom Place your group’s plates w/ card in the bottom

cabinetcabinet

Throw away toothpicks & foilThrow away toothpicks & foil

Return all other materials to basket in center of Return all other materials to basket in center of tabletable– Pointy probePointy probe– Blunt probeBlunt probe– TweezersTweezers– RulerRuler– Bone ChartsBone Charts– GlueGlue

Wash your hands!Wash your hands!

ProcedureProcedure 1.1. Organize the bones into groups and Organize the bones into groups and

record the number of bones foundrecord the number of bones found. .

2.2. Use the skeleton guide to try to fit the Use the skeleton guide to try to fit the bones together to make skeletons.bones together to make skeletons.

3.3. Mount your skeleton on the card stock Mount your skeleton on the card stock provided.provided.

4.4. Identify the type of Identify the type of animal and label. animal and label. Be sure to Be sure to put your names on the back.put your names on the back.

Rodent

ConclusionConclusion Answer the following in the form of a Answer the following in the form of a

paragraph. paragraph. – Was your hypothesis correct? Why or Was your hypothesis correct? Why or

why not?why not?– What did your owl consume?What did your owl consume?– Assuming you collect all the owl pellets Assuming you collect all the owl pellets

dropped from an owl for a year, what dropped from an owl for a year, what information could be obtained from the information could be obtained from the owl pellets? owl pellets?

AnalysisAnalysis Write a paragraph that describes how the prey Write a paragraph that describes how the prey

was captured. Your paragraph can be from the was captured. Your paragraph can be from the perspective of the predator or the prey. perspective of the predator or the prey.

Construct a diagram of a food web (with at least 5 Construct a diagram of a food web (with at least 5 animals) with an owl at the uppermost trophic animals) with an owl at the uppermost trophic level. Use an arrow to show which organism is level. Use an arrow to show which organism is receiving the energy. receiving the energy.

If you were a farmer, explain why it be beneficial If you were a farmer, explain why it be beneficial to have a barn owl? (Provide at least 3 supportive to have a barn owl? (Provide at least 3 supportive details)details)