Final answer:
The main objective of studying a population of wild coyotes could include determining population size, understanding their behavior and social structure, assessing their impact on the ecosystem, or developing coyote management strategies. These objectives are covered under different branches of ecology, such as population ecology and community ecology.
Step-by-step explanation:
When studying a population of wild coyotes, the main objective could be any one of the following, depending on the specific goals and context of the study: determining the population size of coyotes, studying their behavior and social structure, assessing their impact on the ecosystem, or developing strategies for coyote management. Each of these objectives corresponds to different aspects of ecology.
Population ecology often focuses on the number of individuals of a species in an area and how and why that number changes over time. For example, one might employ a mark-recapture method or analyze DNA from collected hair samples to determine coyote population sizes, which is crucial for understanding their role in an ecosystem and implementing effective management strategies.
Understanding the social structure of coyotes involves observing their behavior, which can include both learned and innate elements. Social animals, like coyotes, often have complex interactions and hierarchies that are important for their survival and reproduction. The impact of coyotes on the ecosystem can be assessed through studies of their interactions with other species, like the impact of predation on local deer populations, which affects community dynamics.