Question: Biology and Environmental Science There have been many studies that suggest global climate change is affecting the population of polar bears. One measure of the health of a polar bear population is weight, and the mean weight for a male polar bear is approximately 900 pounds. A recent study suggests that the polar bears in the Chukchi Sea are doing very well, despite changes in the climate.24 A random sample of 14 male polar bears from the Chukchi Sea was obtained from a capture-and-release program. The sample mean weight was x¯ = 1016 pounds. Assume the underlying weight distribution is normal and that σ = 78
a. Find a 99% confidence interval for the true mean weight of male polar bears in the Chukchi Sea.
b. Using your answer from part (a), is there any evidence to suggest that the mean weight of polar bears in the Chukchi Sea is greater than 900 pounds? Justify your answer.