Answer Happy

In some forests, networks of fungi in the soil can transfer
carbon from one tree to another. A study examined this process in
seedlings of birch trees and Douglas fir trees. In these two
species, fungal carbon transfer goes from birch to Douglas fir. The
study tested whether the rate of carbon flow depended on shading.
(Shaded trees might draw more carbon through the soil fungi than do
trees in full sun.) In each of the three shade treatments, five
pairs of fir and birch seedlings were planted and allowed to grow
for one year. Then the total amount of carbon (in mg) transferred
from birch to fir in each pair was measured. Answer the
following two questions about this study.
1. What parametric method would you use to test whether the
different shade treatments led to different amounts of carbon
transfer?
2. If the assumptions of your chosen test were not met,
what non-parametric test would you consider using instead?