Describe a Type I error for this test.

A. Concluding that the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region today is equal to 16 parts per million, when in fact, the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region today is lessless than 16 parts per million.

B. Concluding that the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region today is moremore than 16 parts per million, when in fact, the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region today is equal to 16 parts per million.

C. Concluding that the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region today is lessless than 16 parts per million, when in fact, the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region today is equal to 16 parts per million.

The correct option is (C).

Step-by-step explanation:

Missing information:

According to a university of wildlife ecology and conservation researcher, the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region has declined over the past several years. Five years ago, the average level was 16 parts per million. Give the null and alternative hypotheses for testing whether the average level today is less than 16 ppm.

The hypothesis can be defined as follows:

H₀: The average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region is 16 ppm, i. e. μ = 16.

Hₐ: The average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region is less than 16 ppm, i. e. μ < 16.

A Type I error is the rejection of a null hypothesis (H₀) when indeed the null hypothesis is true. It is symbolized by α.

In this case the type I error can be defined as:

Concluding that the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region today is less than 16 parts per million, when in fact, the average level of mercury uptake in wading birds in a region today is equal to 16 parts per million.

The correct option is (C).