A Heron, a Large Wading Bird, Is Hunting in a Pond

question 30

Multiple Choice

A heron, a large wading bird, is hunting in a pond that contains three types of prey: fish, frogs, and snakes. All three types of prey are abundant and provide the same amount of energy to the heron. The heron has the highest handling time capturing fish, an intermediate handling time capturing snakes, and the lowest handling time capturing frogs. What prey item would foraging theory predict that the heron should catch most frequently?

• A) fish
• B) snakes
• C) frogs
• D) fish and frogs equally frequently

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Definitions:

Least Squares Regression

A method for estimating the best-fitting line through a set of points by minimizing the sum of the squares of the vertical deviations from each point to the line.

Simple Linear Regression

A numerical approach that establishes the link between a dependent variable and one independent variable through the application of a linear equation to the data observed.

Residual Plot

A graphical representation used to visualize the difference between observed and predicted values in a regression analysis.

Normal Probability Plot

A graphical technique for assessing whether or not a data set is approximately normally distributed.