In an experiment described in your text, scientists were collecting data in an attempt to understand factors impacting the proliferation and success of the chytrid fungus pathogen that has dramatically impacted frog populations globally. In the graph pictured, scientists observed that frog species with higher average body temperature tended to have lower infection rates. Is this observational study analytical or descriptive?

Question

Graph illustrating Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection in three frog species. The horizontal axis is titled "Time body temperature is above 25 degrees Celsius" and runs from zero to 40 percent. The vertical axis is titled "Infection Rate" and runs from zero to 60 percent. Three frog species are represented as squares, circles, and diamonds. Males are represented as purple shapes and females as red shapes. The males of the three species have body temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius about 1, 5, and 15 percent of the time. The female frogs have these raised body temperatures 12, 21, and 40 percent of the time. There is no pattern within a species. The general pattern of shapes on the graph shows that, as the percent of frogs with time body temperature above 25 degrees Celsius increases, the infection rate decreases.

descriptive
experimental
analytical

Answer 1

The experiment described in the text, specifically the observation of the relationship between frog body temperature and infection rates, is analytical. Researchers are analyzing the data collected to understand the factors impacting the spread of the chytrid fungus pathogen.