to determine the size pf a parks moose population, caturalists catch 72 moose, tag them, and then set them free. months later 65 moose are caught, of which 15 have tags. Estimate the size of the moose population.
To estimate the size of the moose population, we can use the mark and recapture method, also known as the Lincoln-Petersen index. This method assumes that the ratio of tagged to untagged individuals in the recaptured sample is representative of the overall population.
Here's how to calculate the estimated size of the moose population using the mark and recapture method:
1. Start by determining the initial proportion of tagged moose in the population.
- Initial tagged moose (T1) = 72
2. Next, calculate the estimated population size (N) using the formula:
N = (T1 x T2) / R
Where:
- T1 = number of tagged moose initially (72)
- T2 = total number of moose caught in the second sample (65)
- R = number of tagged moose recaptured in the second sample (15)
Substituting the given values into the formula:
N = (72 x 65) / 15
N ≈ 312
Therefore, the estimated size of the moose population is approximately 312.
Keep in mind that this method assumes certain conditions for it to yield accurate results, such as the assumption that the marked individuals are well-mixed within the population and that they have the same probability of being recaptured as unmarked individuals.