- (a) What combination of independent variables led to the high- est predation level in enclosures with light-colored soil? (b) What
combination of independent variables led to the highest preda-
tion level in enclosures with dark-colored soil?

a) You can think of independent and dependent variables in terms of cause and effect: an independent variable is the variable you think is the cause, while a dependent variable is the effect. In an experiment, you manipulate the independent variable and measure the outcome in the dependent .

b)Explain. A dark brown mouse is more likely to escape predation under a full moon on a dark-colored soil most likely because it is less visible to the eye of the owl