The following table shows data about a population of red pandas.

Question

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 = Nucleotide Diversity and Dependent = Generation
Independent = Nucleotide Diversity and Dependent = Generation

Independent = Generation and Dependent = Acres of Deforested Land
Independent = Generation and Dependent = Acres of Deforested Land

Independent = Acres of Deforested Land and Dependent = Generation
Independent = Acres of Deforested Land and Dependent = Generation
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Answer 1

To present evidence that red panda populations are becoming less diverse over time, you would want to show how nucleotide diversity changes as generations progress. The independent variable is what you manipulate or control in your study, which in this case is the generation number. The dependent variable is what you measure in response to changes in the independent variable, which in this case is nucleotide diversity.

Therefore, the correct choice would be:

Independent = Generation and Dependent = Nucleotide Diversity.