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 = 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 analyze the relationship you are interested in—that red panda populations are becoming less diverse over time—you would want to graph how nucleotide diversity changes with each generation. In this context:

• The independent variable is what you change or control in the experiment or observation, which in this case is Generation.
• The dependent variable is what you measure or observe, which here is Nucleotide Diversity.

Therefore, the correct choice is:

Independent = Generation and Dependent = Nucleotide Diversity.