NSWTR 2024 HR - Flipbook - Page 50
YEAR 7-8 SECTION
RESULTS
DATA TABLE – WHALE SNOT TEST RESULTS
TEST
NUMBER
TEST
NAME
MATERIALS
NEEDED
TEST
METHOD
1
pH
Universal
indicator and
colour chart
Dip the universal
indicator stick
in the whale snot
sample
6.5 -7.5
2
Glucose
Glucose sticks
and
colour chart
Dip the glucose
stick in the whale
snot sample
94 to 115 mg/dL*
3
Protein
CuSO 4
and
NaOH
Mix 2 drops of each
solution with the
whale snot
Pale blue
(negative)
4
Colour
of snot
Snot on
its own
RANGE OF
POSSIBLE RESULTS
YOUR
RESULT
Clear or
cloudy/coloured
RANGE FOR A
HEALTHY WHALE
IS THE WHALE
WITHIN THE
NORMAL RANGE?
YES/ABOVE/BELOW
Clear – healthy
cloudy or coloured –
possible contaminants,
such as an infectious
agent
*See Hematology and serum chemistry values in the beluga (Journal of Wildlife Diseases)
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How healthy was the whale that the snot was collected from? Was it within the normal
range for some or all of the tests?
2. Did your results match those of other class members? If not, how can you 昀椀nd out who
might have the more accurate result?
3. What is meant by an ‘invasive’ or ‘non-invasive’ medical test?
4. What makes the collection of whale snot by drone non-invasive?
5. Is a chemical test a form of technology? Check your ideas by looking up the de昀椀nition
of ‘technology’.
6. What other information do you think scientists can learn about whales from their snot?
CONCLUSION
Write a sentence or two to summarise your results by reporting whether the whale is
within the normal range for each of the tests.
SPECIES SURVIVAL – MORE THAN JUST SUSTAINABILITY
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