Lab 6: Disease Ecology

Question 1

What are the three factors needed for infection to occur?

Answer 1

A pathogen, a susceptible host, and a conducive environment

Question 2

Within a host, the size of the disease population depends on:

Answer 2

• availability of resources required for growth
• competition for resources
• the host’s own immune response

Question 3

Describe the line of “best fit”

Answer 3

Straight line in a linear regression that minimizes its distance from each data point

Question 4

Explain coefficient of determination (r^2)

Answer 4

A measure of the strength of the relationship in a linear regression. Values are from 0-1, with 1 being a strong relationship