Statistical analysis in R Assignment

You are required to report appropriate statistical analysis for TWO out of the provided data sets. Data sets for your cohort will be found on the module space assessment tile (available in Excel format).

For the data provided, please complete the following:

a) Select a practical data set to analyse.

b) Write at least one hypothesis (both null and alternative) for the data.

c) Identify an appropriate statistical test and explain why it has been chosen (with supporting references)

d) Present the results and statistical analysis and briefly evaluate the outcome in a concluding paragraph.

e) Produce at least one graph that appropriately displays the data you have selected, with an appropriate figure legend.

This graph should be the most appropriate for the data you are analysing. It could be a histogram, box plot, bar chart, scatter plot etc. You must decide which graph is best for that data.

Analysis of data sets will relate to the statistical session covered in the research methods R session at level 5. Make sure when you choose your data sets, they fit two different methods on analysis.

Scenario 1:Survival weight of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) links to efficacy of salmon lice treatments

Data name: 1.Salmon_data

Atlantic salmon in aquaculture act as reservoir hosts and vectors of parasites like salmon lice and this parasite is shown to harm wild salmonid populations.

This study tagged Atlantic salmon in four release trials 2013-2014 in the River Etne, draining in the outer parts of Hardangerfjord, in Hordaland County, Norway. Half of the fish formed a control group (0) the other half were given prophylactic treatment against lice (1)

The fish that survived were recaptured after spending 1-4 years at sea and their length (mm), weight (g) and sex was recorded.

Researchers are interested to see if any differences in the survivors weight could be explained by lice treatment and sex.

Scenario 2: Effect of mare diet of foal growth

Data name: Foal_Growth in late gestation

Data relates to the growth of foals and yearlings born to mares fed with forage (f) only, forage and cereals (b), or forage and cereals with a vitamin supplementation in late gestation. The body weight of the foal (kg), was recorded for each individual at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age.

Researchers are interested to investigate the effect of the mares diet on foal growth (kg) over time.

Scenario 3: Effect of posthoc learning on parasitoid efficacy

Data name: 3.Parasitoid_data

Parasitoid wasps are important biological control organisms. Newly emerged parasitoids rely on chemical cues emitted from host aphid mummies during chewing out of the mummy case, this enables them to identify the correct host species to later lay their own eggs in. Commercially supplied parasitoids are sometimes raised either on synthetic aphids or non-specified aphids and host plants. This study conducted in 2014, investigates the effectiveness of these parasitoids compared to that of 2nd-3rd generation parasitoids raised on specified host plants.

Researchers are interested to see if there is a difference on either:

1. time to first attack

2. number of attacks

3. attack efficacy (%)

between commercially supplied, or host plant raised parasitoids and the host plant the parasitoid is hunting on (basil and pak choy)

Scenario 4: Dye as a proxy for real blood; droplet areas vs surface.

Data name: 4.Blood_Tile_data

Investigating blood area coverage and patterns is an important tool in forensic science. Blood, and especially human blood can be expensive to obtain and result in strict health and safety and even ethical objections during testing. This study wanted to investigate if a synthetic nontoxic dye can be used as a proxy for human blood.

50ul blood and dye samples were deposited at a 70 angle onto three different surfaces lino, tile and paper, with the area (mm2) recorded via digital software.

Researchers are interested to know if the area (mm2) is different between the dye and blood on these surfaces

Scenario 5: Data for: Coralline algae species as settlement indicators by larvae of the crown-of-thorns starfish(Acanthaster planci).

Data name: 5.crown_of_thorns

Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) cause extensive degradation of coral reefs, threatening the structure and function of these important ecosystems. For population irruptions to initiate and spread, large numbers of planktonic larvae have to successfully transition into their benthic life-history stage (i.e. settlement).

This laboratory study was conducted in 2016, Queensland Australia. Researchers investigated the effect that the presence of 6 different coralline algae species have on the ability of fertilised COTS larvae to settle. Counts of settled and free swimming COTS larvae were collected after 24hours and 48hours.

Researchers are interested to investigate the effect the 6 coralline algae species have on the settlement number of COTS after either:

1. 24 hours

2. 48 hours

Scenario 6 Differences between UK and International Fish catch

Data name: 6.UK_Sea_Fisheries

This is Governmental data for UK fisheries landing catch by weight in tonnes. Data consist of total landing of fresh fish from the month of January 22-November 22, for UK vessels fishing in UK water and UK vessels fishing in all non UK waters.

Researchers are interested both if UK vessels in UK waters landed more or less fish than UK vessels abroad, and if the landing tonnage varied across the months.

Scenario 7Growth of little penguins (Eudyptulaminor) chicks in relation to nest attendance on two New Zealand Islands (Oamaru and Motuara)

Data name: 7.LittlePenguineMass

This study was conducted in the breeding season 1998/1999 at two colonies of little penguins in New Zealand: Motuara Island (41 06 S, 17416 E) and Oamaru (4506 S, 17058 E). 14 randomly selected penguin nests were checked daily for nest attendance and status of eggs/chicks during daylight hours. The guard stage is the period between the day of hatching of the first chick and the day when the chick(s) was left alone during the day for the first time. This was categorised into short, medium and long stages. Chicks were weighed at 55 days after hatch.

Researchers are interested in investigating if both guard stage and the study site location affected chick weight/g.

Scenario 8:Rate of ectoparasitism of tropical bat species in continuous versus fragmented forests

Data name: 8.EctoparasiteBat

Tropical regions are experiencing rapid rates of forest fragmentation, which can have several effects on wildlife, including altered parasite dynamics. Bats are a useful host group to consider these effects of fragmentation because they are abundant in the tropics, serve important ecological roles, and harbour many parasites. Researchers conducted a meta-analysis on the state of currently available research on fragmentation effects on bat ectoparasites.

Researchers are interested in investigating the effect the region and forest type on the total number of bat ectoparasites.

Scenario 9: Calliphoridae larval lengths as predictors for body deposition, links to species specific growth

Data name: 9.Fly_data

The trials consisted of a semi-field based randomised design. A total of 44 identical containers, baited with 500g pork meat were placed in in two polytunnels in which either 10 mated femaleCalliphora vicinaorCalliphora vomitoria. Containers were covered after 2 hours and then checked periodically over a 24hour period regularly until maggots in the container had reached approx >50% 4th instar. At this point an individual was selected at random from the container, euthanised and its length measured.

Researchers hope to form a predictive model for deposition of a body by the length of the larvae. To do this they are interested in both if there is a difference in the larval length betweenCalliphora vicinaorCalliphora vomitoria,and if this may vary by the time of exposure.

Scenario 10: Effect of Husbandry of Tapir behaviour, a black and white issue?

Data name: 10.Tapir_data and 10.Ethogram

Data consist of behavioural observations on a single Tapir located at Reaseheath Zoo 2020. Data collection consisted of 30 minute observations utilising scan sampling, for before, during and after daily husbandry practices. The study was replicated over five days, with day forming the replicates for the study, as per the BIAZA guidelines for research.

Researchers are interested if rates of behaviours classed as negative behaviours were affected by daily husbandry practices. The primary indicator behaviour chosen was vigilance

- provided with data sets for each scenario only 2 have to be completed

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