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1. In the two following scenarios, a scientist has attempted to support the hypo

ID: 264984 • Letter: 1

Question

1.   In the two following scenarios, a scientist has attempted to support the hypothesis that phosphorus fertilization increases primary productivity in freshwater lakes. For each, state whether or not you would accept the conclusions and explain specifically why you would or wouldn’t accept them.

a)   The scientist fertilizes one lake with phosphorus and takes 12 water samples 1 week later to determine the amount of chlorophyll in the lake. The scientist also takes 12 samples from a control lake of the same size. The average chlorophyll level is not much different in the fertilized samples than in the control samples, so from this experiment the scientist concludes that phosphorus does not have a significant effect on primary productivity.

b)   The scientist follows up with a second experiment and takes 12 different lakes and measures their chlorophyll levels in May. The scientist then fertilizes all the lakes with phosphorus and remeasures chlorophyll levels in July. Because the average chlorophyll concentration is much greater in July, the scientist concludes that phosphorus has a significant effect on primary productivity.

Explanation / Answer

1. In the two following scenarios, a scientist has attempted to support the hypo