Question
Read the scenario.
An ecologist was studying freshwater wetlands across the
southeastern United States. While studying one wetland, the
ecologist noticed that native wetland shrubs and trees were dying.
The ecologist also observed that young shrubs and trees were
stunted in growth and very sparse. At the same time, the
ecologist counted new growth in an invasive reed. The ecologist
wondered why so many native plants were dying.
By reading surveys of the surrounding land, the ecologist learned
that the freshwater wetland bordered a saltmarsh along the coast.
The ecologist also learned that the invasive reed observed
intruding into the wetland was very common in the nearby
saltmarsh. Geological surveys also revealed a gradual increase
in sea level along the coastline and an increase in salinity in the
soil.
Which part of the scientific method is best illustrated by the
ecologist creating a plot of wetland and altering the salinity of the
soil to different levels?
© forming a hypothesis
• setting up an experiment
© communicating the results of a study
O collecting data