APES Owl Pellet Lab

Raptor

Carnivorous bird of prey

Owl Pellet

The undigestable parts of an owl’s meal that the bird will then regurgitate

What can be in an owl pellet?

Bone, teeth, hair, feathers, and exoskeletons

Gizzard

Separates what the owl can digest from what he can not

Proventriculus

Secretes juices onto the food

Pellets per day

2 on average

Possible prey

Bones

Ecological niche of the owl

“Owls act as vital apex predators and natural pest controllers. By hunting small mammals, insects, and other birds, they keep prey populations from exploding, which limits the spread of disease, prevents crop damage, and safeguards local biodiversity.”

Importance of producers

Provide food to the organisms owls consume

1st law of thermodynamics

Energy is never lost, it just changes form

2nd law of thermodynamics

Roughly 90% of energy is lost as heat or waste at each step, leaving only 10% for the next level