E.O.W.Q._3_Population Sampling_(W5)

Conservationists want to find the population of a species of mountain goat. On day one they capture 12 goats, tag them and release them back into the population. A week later they recapture 8 goats. 5 of the goats are tagged. Using the Lincoln-Peterson Equation: N = (M x C) / R,

What would the estimate for the total population of goats be?

• 19

• 40

• 72

• 30

If 50 crabs were captured and marked and then released and then a few days later 25 were caught and of those 5 were marked. What would the estimate of the population be?

• 500

• 250

• 75

• 200

Why do scientists use sampling techniques like the Lincoln-Peterson method to gather population data?

• their lazy

• it is not possible to count an entire population

• it is possible to count an entire population

• they like to make estimations

How does the size of "R" (recaptured marked individuals) affect the accuracy of the Lincoln-Petersen population estimate?

• A smaller "R" leads to an overestimation of the total population because too few marked individuals are being recaptured and this would improve the accuracy.

• The size of "R" has no effect on accuracy; other factors determine it.

• A smaller "R" increases accuracy by suggesting the population is larger than expected.

• A larger "R" leads to a more accurate population estimate because it indicates that marked individuals have been well-mixed throughout the population and properly sampled.

Which of these is not an assumption of the Mark and Recapture method?

• Marked individuals are just as easy to catch again as unmarked ones.

• No immigration or emigration do not occur in significant numbers.

• Marked individuals mix fully and randomly with the total population.

• All individuals do not have an equal chance of capture.

What should be considered when marking, and observing, a study species?

• You must take precautions to make sure marks will stay on the organism.

• You must take precautions to make sure marks will not make organisms easy targets for predators.

• You don't need to take any precautions to make sure marks will stay on an organism.

How can the Lincoln-Petersen method help prevent a trophic cascade in an ecosystem?

• By capturing and marking individuals to increase their survival rates.

• By identifying unmarked individuals in the population.

• By estimating the population size of keystone species, allowing for early detection of population declines that could trigger a trophic cascade.

• By directly increasing the population of predators in the ecosystem.

What is the main difference between the Quadrat Sampling and Mark-Recapture methods?

• Quadrat Sampling is used for estimating populations of mobile organisms, while Mark-Recapture is used for estimating populations of stationary (non-moving) organisms.

• Quadrat Sampling is used for estimating populations in a fixed area (often for plants or sessile (stationary) organisms, while Mark-Recapture is used for estimating populations of mobile (moving) animals.

• Both methods are used exclusively for estimating plant populations.

• Mark-Recapture is used for immobile organisms, while Quadrat Sampling is used for mobile species.

How does calculating percent error help scientists better understand their experimental results?

• It helps them compare the accuracy of their experimental data to the expected or true value.

• It shows how precise their instruments are compared to others.

• It indicates the number of trials needed to reach a valid conclusion.

• It allows scientists to predict future results based on past experiments.

What does "M" represent in the Lincoln-Petersen Index equation?

• The total number of individuals captured in the second sample.

• The number of marked individuals recaptured in the second sample.

• The total number of marked individuals released in the first sample.

• The estimated total population size.