A researcher is examining the response of corn to herbivory by white-tailed deer. She sets up a corn field with a very high fence to exclude deer and then a field where deer can have free access. After four weeks, she measures the height of the corn plants and the number of ears or corn each plant produces. What is the independent variable in her experiment

The herbivory by the white-tailed deer

Explanation:

The independent variable can be defined as the variable that who's values do not depend on those of another.

The independent variable in this case is the herbivory by the white-tailed deer which is divided into two categories.

The dependent variables is the response of the corn to the independent variable which are measurements to be taken as shown in the question; the height of the corn plants and the number of ears or corn each plant produces.