Hemlocks are a common type of tree in the northern forests of the United States. In studying one forest, a forester noticed that mature hemlocks were abundant but there were very few young hemlocks. She wondered why there were so few young hemlocks. By reading the records that other foresters in that area had kept, she learned that the population of deer living in the forest had doubled in the last five years. By reading studies on forests that other scientists had performed, she also learned that deer in similar forests like to eat young hemlocks and the young trees of other species.

Question

Hemlocks are a common type of tree in the northern forests of the United States. In studying one forest, a forester noticed that mature hemlocks were abundant but there were very few young hemlocks. She wondered why there were so few young hemlocks. By reading the records that other foresters in that area had kept, she learned that the population of deer living in the forest had doubled in the last five years. By reading studies on forests that other scientists had performed, she also learned that deer in similar forests like to eat young hemlocks and the young trees of other species.

Which is the independent variable in the experiment described above?

Question 7 options:

the weather conditions

the deer

the fencing

the visible bite marks

Answer 1

The independent variable in the experiment described above is the deer.

Answer 2

The independent variable in the experiment described above is "the deer". The forester noticed that there were very few young hemlocks in the forest, and through reading records and studies, she learned that the population of deer had doubled and that deer in similar forests like to eat young hemlocks. Therefore, the presence and behavior of deer is the independent variable being investigated in relation to the abundance of young hemlocks.