74 Tree frog study. The optomotor responses of tree frogs were studied in the Journal of Experimental Zoology (Sept.

1993). Microspectrophotometry was used to measure the threshold quantal flux (the light intensity at which the optomotor response was first observed) of tree frogs tested at different spectral wavelengths. The data revealed the relationship between the logarithm of quantal flux ( y ) and wavelength ( x ), shown in the following graph:

a. Explain why a first-order model would not be appropriate for modeling E ( y ).

b. Explain why a second-order model would not be appropriate for modeling E ( y ).

c. Demonstrate that the third-order model E(y) = b0 + b1 x + b2 x2 + b3 x3 may be the most appropriate model for E ( y ).

Transcribed Image Text:

Log of quantal flux y Wavelength x