Question

Suppose you are helping scientists conduct a study of a population of Kangaroo rats. The scientists initially capture 95 kangaroo rats from a field in Buttonwillow and tag all of them. After a month, they capture 110 kangaroo rats and count 25 tags. What is the estimated kangaroo rat population from a field in Buttonwillow?

Answer 1

Using the mark and recapture method and applying the Lincoln-Petersen Estimator, the estimated population size of kangaroo rats in the Buttonwillow field is approximately 418 individuals.

Step-by-step explanation:

To estimate the population size of kangaroo rats in a field in Buttonwillow, scientists utilize the mark and recapture method. The initial capture marked 95 kangaroo rats. After a month, a second capture of 110 kangaroo rats included 25 previously tagged individuals. Applying the formula for the Lincoln-Petersen Estimator:

Estimated population size (N) = (number of marked first catch × total number of second catch) ÷ number of marked second catch

Using this formula:

N = (95 × 110) ÷ 25

N = 10450 ÷ 25

N = 418

Therefore, the estimated kangaroo rat population is approximately 418 individuals.