Stats 3: Statistical Significance Tests

This assignment will give you practice with determining correlations between variables, using correlations to determine regression, and calculating coefficients of determination to support a regression. It may help to review the Analyzing Ecology sections of the textbook prior to beginning the assignment (ch. 14- statistical significance; ch.15- t-test; ch. 16- chi-square test)

For this assignment, imagine that a recent volcanic eruption created new geothermal vents with varying temperatures on one of the Galapagos Islands. You hypothesize that the microbes colonizing these vents will exhibit adaptive radiation in their temperature tolerance. To test this, you collect samples from two vent sites: a high-temperature vent (70°C) and a moderate-temperature vent (50°C). You find 10 strains (or species) in both locations and you determine their optimal growth temperature. The data is summarized in the excel file below.

Download the data table here.