Question

deformity such as the extra limbs that have been noted and many frog populations in North America are caused by trematode (parasitic flatworm) infectionsz

Is this statement an observation, hypothesis, or prediction

Answer 1

The statement you provided is primarily an observation. It describes a phenomenon (deformities in frog populations) and attributes it to a cause (trematode infections). It presents a factual claim based on observed occurrences in nature, rather than proposing a testable explanation or forecasting future occurrences.

A hypothesis might suggest a specific mechanism or relationship to be tested, while a prediction would state what is expected to happen in the future based on a hypothesis. In contrast, your statement is simply noting an observable relationship.