374,462 views
36 votes
36 votes
A scientist is keeping fruit flies for a genetic study and needs to check the population of the flies. In order to do this, he anesthetizes 1,470 fruit flies using ether. He then marks the fruit flies and returns them to the colony. Later, he anesthetizes 464 fruit flies and counts 32 marked fruit flies among them. To the nearest whole number, what is the best estimate for the fruit fly population?

PLEASE ANSWER FAST!!

User Kaka
by
2.5k points

2 Answers

16 votes
16 votes

Final answer:

Using the mark and recapture method with the formula (Number of marked individuals in first catch x Total number of second catch) / Number of marked individuals recaptured in second catch, the estimated population size of the fruit flies is 21,330.

Step-by-step explanation:

To estimate the population of fruit flies, the scientist is using a process called mark and recapture, which is a common method used in ecology to estimate an animal population's size. The key formula for the mark-recapture method is:

Estimated population size = (Number of marked individuals in first catch x Total number of second catch) / Number of marked individuals recaptured in second catch.

In this case:

Number of marked individuals in first catch = 1,470

Total number of second catch = 464

Number of marked individuals recaptured in second catch = 32

By plugging in the numbers:

Estimated population size = (1,470 x 464) / 32 = 21,330

Since we should round to the nearest whole number, the best estimate for the fruit fly population is 21,330.

User Limbic System
by
2.3k points
25 votes
25 votes

Answer:

Answer 2,000

Step-by-step explanation:

1470 +

464 +

32

Answer 1966 = 2000

User Bob Rockefeller
by
3.1k points