Mercury in Fish

Figure 1 shows scatterplot of the acidity (pH0 for a sample of n=53 Florida lakes vs the average mercury level(ppm) found in fish taken from each lake there appears to be negative trends in the scatterplot and we wish to test whether there is significant evidence.

What are the Null and alternative hypotheses

Ho Vs Ha

For these data a statistical software package produces the following output

r=-0.575 p-value =0000017

What is the conclusion of the test

There is no evidence of a negative association between pH and mercury level in fish

There is weak evidence of a negative association between pH and mercury levels in fish

There is moderately strong evidence of a negative association between pH and mercury level in fish

There is very strong evidence of a negative association between pH and mercury levels in Fish