Variables and Hypothesis

Does the presence of frogs indicate whether the pond is healthy?

Abstract

Have you ever heard the expression "a canary in a coal mine"? In the 1900's and earlier, coal miners brought canaries with them into the mines to act as early warning signals. The canaries were very sensitive to low levels of dangerous gases, so if the birds stopped singing, or got sick, then the miners knew to leave immediately, even if they felt fine. As it turns out, our froggy friends are also very helpful at signaling problems, not in mines, but in and around bodies of water. Try this environmental science fair project to find out how.

Objective

To determine the percentage of malformed frogs in a local pond and determine if it is greater than what is expected for a healthy pond.

Credits

Kristin Strong, Science Buddies

Independent Variable 

Frogs

Dependent Variable 

Pond Health

Hypothesis 

A healthy pond would be beneficial to frogs, thus there would be more frogs in that pond if the pond is healthy.
Since an unhealthy pond would be dangerous to frogs, lesser frogs would stay in an unhealthy pond.