Q. 4.69 - Elementary Statistics

Question

Wasp Mating Systems. In the paper "Mating System and Sex Allocation in the Gregarious Parasitoid Cotesia glomerata" (Animal Behaviour, Vol. $66$, pp. $259-264$). H. Gu and S. Dorn reported on various aspects of the mating system and sex allocation strategy of the wasp C. glomerata, One part of the study involved the investigation of the percentage of male wasps dispersing before mating in relation to the brood sex ratio (proportion of males). The data obtained by the researchers are on the WeissStats site.

a. Obtain a scatterplot for the data.

b. Is it reasonable to find a regression line for the data? Explain your answer.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a. The graph of scatterplot is as,

b. It is not reasonable to find a regression line for the data.

Part (a) Step 1: Given Information

One part of the study involved the investigation of the percentage of male wasps dispersing before mating in relation to the brood sex ratio (proportion of males). The data obtained by the researchers are on the Weiss Stats site. 

Part (a) Step 2: Explanation

MINITAB can be used to create a scatterplot using the provided data:

Step 1: Choose $Graph>Scatterplot$

Step 2: Choose With Connect Line, and then click OK.

Step 3: Under $Y$ variables, enter a column of $\%DISPERSING$

Step 4: Under $X$ variables, enter a column of SEX RATIO

Step 5: Click OK

The scatterplot is as,

Part (b) Step 1: Given Information

To determine whether or not finding a regression line is reasonable.

Part (b) Step 2: Explanation

As the observation points are scattered around the curve, finding a regression line does not make sense since there is no linear pattern in the points.