The eastern gray squirrel, sciurus carolinensis, is found in many forests throughout the eastern united states. a biologist studying squirrel populations is convinced that the number of squirrels living in a given area is related to the number of acorn producing oak trees. he plans to compare the number of squirrels and the number of acorn producing oak trees in several different forests to see if the data support his idea. which scientific term best describes this biologist's assertion that squirrel populations and acorns are related?