Question

Of mesa verde national park, by g. w. mierau and j. l. schmidt, mesa verde museum association). suppose a doe that weighs less than 54 kg is considered undernourished. (a) what is the probability that a single doe captured (weighed and released) at random in december is undernourished? (b) if the park has about 2200 does, what number do you expect to be under- nourished in december?

Answer 1

The probability of a single doe being undernourished cannot be determined without specific data on the deer population's weight distribution. The total population size can be estimated using mark and recapture methods, and the expected number of undernourished does would require the probability of a doe being undernourished, which is not provided.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the probability of a single doe being undernourished, we would need additional information regarding the distribution of weights and the overall health status of the deer population in Mesa Verde National Park. In the absence of this specific data, we cannot accurately determine this probability. However, we can address the concept of estimating populations.

Population estimates can be determined using mark and recapture studies, as referenced in the information provided. This method is based on capturing a sample of the population, marking the captured individuals, and then recapturing another sample at a later time. The proportion of marked individuals in the second sample is used to estimate the total population size. The equation N = (n1 x n2) / m is used, where N is the total population size, n1 is the number of individuals captured and marked in the first sample, n2 is the total number of individuals captured in the second sample, and m is the number of marked individuals recaptured in the second sample.

In the example provided, if 80 deer are captured and tagged in the first sample, and later 100 deer are captured with 20 of them being already marked, we can calculate the population size. Using the equation, we get N = (80 x 100) / 20, which equals 400 deer estimated in the population.

Regarding the likelihood of undernourished does within the estimated population of 2200, we can apply the concept of expected values in probability. The expected number of undernourished individuals would be the total number of does multiplied by the probability of a doe being undernourished. Without the exact probability value, we can only express this conceptually as E = 2200 x P(undernourished), where E is the expected number of undernourished does, and P(undernourished) is the probability of a doe being undernourished.