David Blehert and his research team captured 117 healthy bats to study in the laboratory and divided them into 4 groups. Group 1 was housed in an area free from Geomyces destructans. Group 2 was housed in an area that shared the same air as bats infected with WNS, but they did not have direct contact with the infected bats. Group 3 was housed in direct contact with other bats infected with WNS. Group 4 was directly exposed to Geomyces destructans when it was applied to their wings. During the study period the bats were monitored for signs of WNS. What were the independent and dependent variables in this experiment?

The independent variable were the different air conditions of the houses in which the bats were kept.

The dependent variable was signs of WNS in the bats.

Explanation:

In a scientific experiment, an independent variable can be described as a variant that is either changed by the researcher or changes naturally. The effects of the changes in the independent variable are determined on the dependent variable in a scientific experiments. As the differences in the air conditions on WNS were being checked hence, it was the independent variable.

The dependent variable is under study in a scientific experiment. As WNS being tested in the experiment, hence it is the dependent variable.