Question

The following table shows data about a population of red pandas. Data Collected from a Red Panda Population Over Time Generation 1 2 3 4 5 Average mass of red panda 4.6 kg 4.6 kg 4.5 kg 4.4 kg 4.3 kg Nucleotide Diversity in Population 0.000625 0.0005575 0.0004255 0.0003523 0.0003523 Population Size 48 47 44 44 42 Deforested Land (acres) 150 150 450 4,500 54,000 If you wanted to present evidence that red panda populations were becoming less diverse over time, which choice correctly identifies the independent and dependent variables you would choose to use in your graph? (1 point) Responses Independent = Generation and Dependent = Nucleotide Diversity Independent = Generation and Dependent = Nucleotide Diversity Independent = Generation and Dependent = Acres of Deforested Land Independent = Generation and Dependent = Acres of Deforested Land Independent = Nucleotide Diversity and Dependent = Generation Independent = Nucleotide Diversity and Dependent = Generation Independent = Acres of Deforested Land and Dependent = Generation

Answer 1

To present evidence that red panda populations are becoming less diverse over time, you would want to plot the relationship between the generation (which reflects time) and the nucleotide diversity of the population (which indicates genetic diversity).

In this case, the correct identification of the independent and dependent variables for your graph would be:

**Independent = Generation and Dependent = Nucleotide Diversity.**

This means you would plot the different generations on the x-axis and the corresponding nucleotide diversity values on the y-axis to show how diversity changes over time.