A scientist was observing a population of sea cucumbers in coastal waters. Over a 10-day period, she collected the following information about the distribution of the individuals within a 10-meter square plot:
Distribution of Sea Cucumbers within a 10-Meter Square Plot
Time of Day
Average Distance between Individuals (cm)
Midnight
7.0
4 a.m.
7.8
8 a.m.
43.7
Noon
172.0
4 p.m.
349.5
8 p.m.
58.9
Midnight
7.0
Use the data above as a basis as you answer the following questions: (10 points)
(a) Identify THREE biotic or abiotic factors that could cause the sea cucumbers to vary their distance from each other throughout the day.
(b) Using one of the factors listed in part (a) as an independent variable, write a hypothesis that proposes how this variable could cause the sea cucumbers to vary their distance from each other.
(c) Design a procedure for a controlled experiment to test your hypothesis.
(d) Describe the results that would support your proposed hypothesis and the results that would refute your hypothesis.
