Scientific literacy is the ability of a person to use their knowledge to read and write using academic language and follow the steps of the scientific method. During BIO 104 lecture and lab we were assigned to read multiple scientific papers and even compose our own version of a scientific paper after our lab with crickets. The learning outcome targeted by these assignments was to demonstrate scientific literacy and the ability to communicate science-based information. This is extremely important for college students especially in science-based majors like me (pharmacy). This allows the students to communicate with each other and the larger scientific community effectively and at an appropriate level.
Category: Blog BIO 104
Unit 5 Eagle Cam Observation
May 1, 2019
2:25 – 2:40
Partially Cloudy/Windy
- 1 Adult in nest with 2 chicks
- Adult flew away
- 2 chicks standing in nest
- 1 chick scratching at feathers with talons and beak
- Chicks wobbling back and forth from one foot to the other
- Other chick putting head in the nest (looking for something to eat?)
- This chick now has something in his mouth
- First chick spreads out wings – large wing span (getting ready to start learning to fly?)
- Other chick spreads wings
- Both lay down in the nest as the sun went behind the clouds
Friday (4/12/19)
Time: 1:50 – 2:05
Chicks laying down in nest, relatively still
Adult standing on the edge of the nest, looking around, calling out (possibly for mate)
Adult bending over one chick
This chick stands up
Chick opens mouth as adult rips up something in the nest (possibly to feed the chick, but unsure because adult is blocking the camera’s view)
Adult spins and flies off
No adult Eagle in the nest
Other chick appears to be breathing heavily
First chick is standing up and spreading wings a bit
First chick walks over towards the other chick and lays down (restless?)
Chick opens mouth (possibly calling for adult)
Other chick stands up and stretches wings – it is clear that this chick is larger
This chick also opens mouth as if calling for adult
This chick is able to stand up taller than the other
What is cellular respiration?
- Cellular respiration is a process carried out by the cells of an organism to break down glucose into usable energy (ATP)
- Glucose and oxygen are needed for this process
- Carbon dioxide and water are by-products of this reaction
How is cellular respiration related to what you measured in the cricket lab?
- In the cricket lab, we measured the amount of carbon dioxide present in the container in which the crickets were held. Since carbon dioxide gas is a product of cellular respiration, the increase in CO2 over a period of time tells us the rate at which cellular respiration is occurring.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Time: 2:18-2:33
Weather: Sunny/Clear Skies/ Slightly Windy
- 1 adult in the nest
- 1 chick on each side of the adult
- Adult looking around and calling out loudly
- Mate appears with food (possibly fish? – scaly skinned meat)
- First adult stands up and flies away
- Second adult begins eating and feeding the chicks
- Tries to feed the smaller chick, but this chick is hesitant to take the food
- Eventually smaller chick eats some
- Larger chick eats much more
Questions to answer before watching this video
- In what ways do you see yourself as a writer? Are you a poet? A journalist? A blogger? What style of writing is most familiar and comfortable for you?
When I write, I am often completing an assignment for school. I am usually writing a paper with a structured thesis and body paragraphs. I am a very methodical person and writer, so I like to set up my arguments in a logical and organized way.
- What is your impression of scientific writing?
Scientific writing that I have read is largely in the form of reports on experiments published in scientific journals. These articles have a concise structure and organization that I jive well with.
Answer these questions after you watch the video
- How do Wilson’s ideas fit with your experience or ideas about scientific writing?
Wilson’s ideas fit with my experience about scientific writing, but I did not realize how different the discussion section has the potential to be. This can be an opportunity for the researcher to break from the journalistic narration of the experiment and explain the implications of their research.
- What if anything surprised you about Wilson’s description of scientists, and their emotions and values as they fit into the process of science?
I was surprised by Wilson’s remark that scientists must think like a poet, record like a bookkeeper, and write like a journalist. He claims that in order to be a good scientist there must be passion to discover, a record of all observations with painstaking detail, and a report written in a logical way that makes discoveries easily understandable.
Eagle Cam Observation #2
Date: February 21, 2019
Start Time: 10:22
End Time: 10:37
Camera 2 (above angle)
- 1 Eagle in nest
- Remained relatively still during the 15 minutes
- Moving nest materials around with beak
- Rocking back and forth – possibly to roll eggs for even incubation
- Looking around – possibly for mate
Eagle Cam Observation #1
February 7th, 2019
2:47 – 3:02
- Eagle is sitting in nest on eggs
- Moving head, looking around
- Tucking head and using beak to scratch/clean body
- Called out once, possibly for mate
- Fiddling with nest, picking up pieces and placing them down – restless, possibly waiting for mate
- Wind blowing web cam and branches of tree
Eagle Cam Observations
Watch the live stream for at least 15 minutes per observation period.
Record start time and end time for your observations
Behavioral Terms to use in your journal
- Sitting on the nest – up until you see the eggs. Document the number of eggs, then use the term-
- Incubating until the eggs hatch and
- Brooding if the bird is sitting on the chick(s) or has them under her wing
- Nest building – the bird is tossing nest materials maybe tossing behind him/her) or picking at them and dropping them.
- Explanation – the bird is restless and wants to be relieved by its mate. You may see the mate come back while you are watching.
- Nest exchange – one bird comes back and the other leaves
Use your own descriptions for other activities you observe
