Where Did the Seals Go?
Basic Research Question 3: How does air temperature affect the number of seals observed?
Project Oceanology students are more likely to see seals when they are hauled out on the rocks. Seals haul out for two main reasons: to rest, and to warm up.
As mammals, seals must maintain an internal body temperature similar to our own. They have very high metabolisms and eat a lot of fish to help them generate a lot of heat! However, they are constantly losing heat to their environment. Their body temperatures are influenced by the temperature of the water around them while they are swimming, and the air around them while they are ‘hauled out’ on the rocks. If their environment is cold, they will lose heat rapidly and have to spend a lot of energy to stay warm enough. If their environment is warm, they will lose heat very slowly and will not have to spend as much energy. Because seals are so well insulated, they can even overheat if their environment is too warm.
The image below shows thermal scans of the skin surface temperature of a seal pup that has been basking in the warm sun (left), and the same seal pup after a 20 minute swim in cold water. The core body temperature of the seal pup is the same in both photos, but in the right photo, the pup is having to work a lot harder to stay warm, because it is losing more heat to its environment!
Image: Tang et al. 2013, 44th Conference of the International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine
During the time of year, the seals are in Fishers Island Sound, the air temperature varies a lot - from below freezing, to more than 20˚C (68˚F)!
Part A: Prediction and Reasoning
Write answers to the following prompts on your sheet of paper.
1. Make a prediction: In Fishers Island sound, within what temperature range would you expect to see the most seals?
2. Explain your reasoning: WHY do you think we would see the most seals when the air temperature is within that range?
Part B: Analyze the Data
Look at the dataset below. On your piece of paper, illustrate the data by making a graph. Your graph should have clear labels on both the x-axis and the y-axis. The type of graph (scatterplot, column graph, etc) is up to you.
This table shows the mean number of seals we observed in each range of air temperatures (℃). Each number is an average of many trips.
Part C: Interpret the Results and Make Arguments from Evidence
Write answers to the following prompts on your sheet of paper.
1. Make a claim that answers the research question (one sentence).
2. What evidence was used to write your claim? Reference specific parts of your graph.
3. Explain your reasoning. Make sure to connect your answer to what you have learned about the relationship between seals and the air temperature.
4. Was your prediction supported by the results? Use evidence to explain why or why not.
5. Think back to our scenario at the beginning. Can your results be used to explain why your friend saw several hundred seals, but you only saw 20? Make a prediction about what might have been different between the trips.
6. How would you follow up? Describe a new question that should be investigated to build on these results, and what future data should be collected to answer your question.
Congratulations! Your final analysis should include the following components:
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Your answers to the two video questions
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A statement of the research question that you chose/were assigned
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Your prediction and your reasoning
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Your labelled graph
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Your answers to the results questions
Share your results with your teacher, and/or by emailing it to Project O: projecto@oceanology.org