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Where Did the Seals Go?

Basic Research Question 5: How does wind speed affect the number of seals observed?

If you’ve ever had to wait for the school bus on a windy, winter morning, you’re probably familiar with the concept of wind chill. The wind chill temperature is how cold people and animals feel when outside. Windchill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. Therefore, the wind makes it FEEL much colder. Seals lose body heat at a different rate than humans, but the overall effect is very similar.

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Check out this wind chill calculator (Source: calcultor.net).

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The seals in Fishers Island Sound must haul out at the Clumps and Hungry Point to rest, exposing them to various wind speeds.

Part A: Prediction and Reasoning

Write answers to the following prompts on your sheet of paper.

1. Make a prediction:  What pattern do you expect to see as the wind speed increases: more seals, fewer seals, or the same number of seals? 

2. Explain your reasoning:  WHY do you think we would or would not see a change in the number of seals based on wind speed?

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 at each range of wind speeds.  Each number is an average of many trips.  

Where did the seals go_BRQ5_Table1.png

 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 wind speed.

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:

  • Your answers to the two video questions

  • A statement of the research question that you chose/were assigned

  • Your prediction and your reasoning

  • Your labelled graph

  • Your answers to the results questions


Share your results with your teacher, and/or by emailing it to Project O: projecto@oceanology.org

Return to "Where Did the Seals Go" landing page

**Educators and/or homeschool parents: educator guides are available for all research projects. 
Email projecto@oceanology.org to request an educator guide**

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