Owl adaptations & Food Webs present

Evolutionary Adaptations of a Predator!

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What is the Basic Process of Evolution?The basic theory of evolution is surprisingly simple. It has three key parts:

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1. It is possible for the DNA of an organism to occasionally change, or mutate. A mutation changes the DNA of an organism in a way that affects its offspring, either immediately or several generations down the line.

2. The change brought about by a mutation is either beneficial, harmful or neutral. • If the change is harmful, then it is not likely the offspring will survive to reproduce, so

the mutation dies out. • If the change is beneficial, then it is likely that the offspring will do better than other

offspring and so will reproduce more. This is called an Adaptation.• Through reproduction, the beneficial mutation spreads. The process of culling bad

mutations and spreading good mutations is called natural selection.

3. As mutations occur & spread over long periods of time new species form. Over the course of many millions of years, the processes of mutation and natural selection have created every species of life we see in the world today, from the simplest bacteria to humans and everything in between.

This owl eats small mammals, small to medium sized birds,

reptiles, larger insects, and

amphibians, lizards, frogs, earthworms,

and insects

What Evolutionary Adaptations make an owl a good predator?

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guardiansofgahoole.wikia.com

Evolutionary Adaption #1 : Keen Eyesight

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Evolutionary Adaption #1 : Extraordinary eyesight - binocular & night vision

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Evolutionary Adaption #2 : Twist head 270 degrees

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/mystery-revealed-of-how-owls-can-spin-their-heads-1.1138959jschmied©2014

Evolutionary Adaption #2 : Twist head 270 degrees

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/mystery-revealed-of-how-owls-can-spin-their-heads-1.1138959jschmied©2014

Evolutionary Adaption #3 : Protective Nictating Membrane

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Evolutionary Adaption #4 : Directional Hearing

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Evolutionary Adaption #4 : Hearing - is acute

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Evolutionary Adaption #5: Silent Flight

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Evolutionary Adaption #5 : Silent Flight

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http://eyes4earth.org/eagle-owl-in-action/

Evolutionary Adaption #6 : Grasping Talons

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http://www.richmondaudubon.org/PhotosSawwhet1.html

Evolutionary Adaption #6 : Grasping Talons

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Evolutionary Adaption #7 : Hooked Beak

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Evolutionary Adaption #8 : Large, Strechy Mouth & Esophagus

All owls are fierce Predators

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-pictures-owls-their-prey?image=5jschmied©2014

Hunting for Prey – Barn Owl

jschmied©2014 http://www.sandralamarche.com/owlivia/OwlsFoodLodging.htm

http://www.owlpages.com/articles.php?section=owl+physiology&title=Food

Wide Variety of Prey: A Vole.

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Wide Variety of Prey: A Shrew.

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Wide Variety of Prey: A Lemming.

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Silent Approach!!

Taking prey to a

safe perch

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Preps food to eat!

Head first!

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http://www.arkive.org/barn-owl/tyto-alba/video-08.html

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After Digestion – bones & fur come up as a pellet!

http://www.arkive.org/barn-owl/tyto-alba/video-08.html

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Many other birds use the same process:

http://www.pbase.com/jitams/image/119497647

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e90BZyiQ-Ro/S5Ss94PTmYI/AAAAAAAAClA/d_-W22BNC2I/s400/Laysan+Albatross+%26+chick+sm.jpg

Belted Kingfisher

Laysan Albatross

Prey Selection Varies by owl & availability Northern Saw Whet Owl

http://www.ecologyedu.com/ecology_education_resources/owls_of_new_jersey/northern_saw_whet_owl_fact_sheet.html

http://www.owling.com/saw-whet8.htmjschmied©2014

Prey Selection Varies by owl & availability Great Horned Owl

http://www.ecologyedu.com/ecology_education_resources/owls_of_new_jersey/great_horned_owl_fact_sheet.html

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Food Webs – The rest of the storyFood webs are often simplified A predator’s prey varies with the time of the year, weather, & available food .

Compare this food web to the data below:

Great Horned Owl’s really eat:• Over 253 species of prey: Spiders, insects,

crayfish, fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, turtles, ducks, herons, pheasants, geese, rabbits, rats, mice, voles, skunks, opossum, muskrats & woodchucks.

• Great Horned Owls mostly feed on: Rabbits, hares, squirrels, rats and muskrats.

• Great Horned Owls prey on other owls Barred Owls, Barn Owls, Screech Owls, Saw-whet Owls, but not Snowy Owls.http://www.ecologyedu.com/ecology_education_resources/owls_of_new_jersey/great_horned_owl_fact_sheet.html

http://mrsmaine.wikispaces.com/Southeast+1

2. I can show & analyze flows of matter & energy in an ecosystem using an

energy pyramid, food web or matter cycler. jschmied©2014

Act 78 – Coughing up CluesStep One: Dissect pelletStep Two:Organize bones for glue downsStep Three: Glue Down One Skeleton

on Index Card (draw missing parts)Step Four: Glue Down rest on Bone ChartStep Five: Clean UpStep Six: Get Instructor’s Check Off (both)Step Seven: Finish all Lab Questionsjschmied©2014

Act 78 – Coughing up Clues Step One - Dissect

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Act 78 – Coughing up Clues Step Two - Organize

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Act 78 – Coughing up Clues Step Three – Glue Down/ Skeleton on Index Card,

Draw missing parts

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Act 78 – Coughing up Clues Step Four : Glue Down the

rest

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Act 78 – Coughing up CluesStep One: Dissect pelletStep Two:Organize bones for glue downsStep Three: Glue Down One Skeleton

on Index Card (draw missing parts)Step Four: Glue Down rest on Bone ChartStep Five: Clean UpStep Six: Get Instructor’s Check Off (both)Step Seven: Finish all Lab Questionsjschmied©2014

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A Snowy Owl - Silent and Deadly

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