Assignment: Virtual Dissection
The time is now. You've gone out and collected your albatross bolus, and you are itching to find out what is inside. Put on your (pretend) gloves, mask, lab coat, and grab a (pretend) scalpel. It's time to open your bolus.
Watch these videos, in this order:
1. Breaking the Bolus.
2. Squid Beak Extraction.
3. Foreign Materials Extraction.
Then, move through the photos directly after the third video (you can just stay on that webpage) and click the right arrow on the slideshow). Fill out the following table:
Bolus measurements pre-dissection
Mass (grams)
Length (cm)
List the materials extracted from the bolus
Length of a squid beak (cm)
Mass of squid beaks (grams)
Mass of natural non-prey materials (grams) (such as wood & stones)
Mass of fishing line (grams)
Mass of all plastics (grams)
Mass of unidentified debris (grams)
Length of the piece of a bottle (cm)
List other plastic items collected near the bolus location (last photo)
Answer the following questions:
1. How many pieces of plastic were colored and/or shiny?
2. What percentage of bolus was made of plastic?
3. What percentage was made of prey items?
4. Do you think this bird ate more squid or more plastic?
5. Do you think that the bird that expelled this bolus is well-nourished? Why?
6. Do you think any of the percentages would be different if it were a Black-footed Albatross bolus?
7. What does this information tell you about the overall health of the ocean?