Owl Pellet Dissection

Today students dissected owl pellets.  We found voles, mice and even a pocket gopher!  Below is a picture of a skull and mandibles that Kobe found.  Can you figure out what animal this belonged to?

So what was the point of this lab?  We were able to see how no energy transfer is 100% complete as we move up through the trophic levels.  Consider the cow pictured below.  How much energy is actually left in its tissues out of the 100kJ it consumes?

There's only 4kJ left in the cow's tissue!   So here's something to think about, based on the picture above and what you know about mass meat production:  Why do people say that a  vegetarian diet is more eco-friendly?   Here's a story from Radio Boston about what it takes to make your meat.

Homework:  Your info lit packet is due on Saturday.