Bambi vs Corn.pdf - CAstatistics

Bambi vs. Corn
The typical garden variety deer
(Odocoileus spp.) can be a serious
problem even beyond the garden.
Deer are thought to cause more
damage to agricultural products than
any other species of wildlife. In 1993
over $30 million worth of corn was lost
to deer just in the 10 largest cornproducing
states. In late June and
early July corn reaches the silking–
tasseling stage of growth. Cornfields
are at particular risk during the
silking/tasseling stage because (a) the
corn is very tasty, and (b) damage during this period seriously reduces yield. Damaged ears of corn,
unlike gecko tails, are not replaced.
It might be possible for farmers to minimize the amount of damage to crops by using visual and/or
acoustic frightening devices during the silking/tasseling stage of corn growth. These devices range from
(a) less than distressing to (b) terror inducing.
(a)
(b)

One frightening device under consideration is a bio-acoustic device that would mimic animal
communication signals such as alarm or distress calls. These devices typically consist of an infrared
detection system, which activates an audio component that broadcasts recorded alarm or distress calls.
An alarm call is used to warn others of possible danger; a distress call is emitted when an animal is
physically traumatized or restrained. Researchers have studied the effects of such devices on birds, but
little is known of their effect on mammals. If effective with deer, bio-acoustic alternatives would meet
with public approval and in addition could be used in both rural and urban settings.
You are to design an experiment to test the hypothesis that sound devices can reduce deer
predation on corn. For purposes of this experiment every right-thinking Iowa farmer has volunteered
his acreage for use as test plots; you have complete freedom to choose cornfields for treatment and
control plots. Not only that, every right-thinking Iowa parent has volunteered their teenagers’ boom
boxes (in hopes that you are conducting a multi-year experiment.) These boom boxes came in various
brands, with the Aiwa CD player (model CDC-X217) being the most popular. Infra-red animal-activated
alarm and distress call systems have been purchased from the Charles River Universal Scientific
Technical Yard (CRUSTY) and the corn yield will be measured by yield monitors linked to Global
Positioning Systems on harvesting equipment.
Deer are most active at dusk and dawn, and are frequent feeders at night. They tend to stay close
to wooded areas for safety; farms in Iowa are frequently interspersed with wooded areas.