Concept explainers
In a mark-recapture study, an ecologist traps, marks, and releases 25 voles in a small wooded area. A week later she traps 30 voles, 10 of which are marked. What is her estimate of the vole population in that area?
To determine: The approximate population of vole in the given area by the mark-recapture method.
Introduction: An ecologist traps, marks, and releases 25 voles in a small wooded area. The ecologist again traps 30 voles after a gap of one week and observes that 10 of them have the mark.
Explanation of Solution
The vole population can be calculated by the formula given below:
Estimated population size (N) =
Here, N is the estimated size of the population, s is the number of animals initially marked and released, n is the number in second sampling, and x is the recaptured marked animals.
Substituting the values of s=25, n=30, and x=10 in equation (I) to find the estimated population size of voles.
The estimated population size (N) of voles is 75 voles.
Thus, the estimated size of the vole population in the given area is 75 voles.
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