Question
During ecological study, students collected and marked 120 ants and released them. After 48 hours, the students captured another 90 ants, 20 of which had been marked previously.
(a) How many ants were there in the compound? Show your working.
(b) What are the limitations of this method in sampling animal populations?
(c) State two other methods which could be used to determine the population?
Answer
i.e P = FM X SC/ MR
= (120 x 90)/20 = 540
(b)
- Does not consider migration of organisms into and out of study area
- Does not consider the effects of paint used on the animals' behavior
- Released animals may not mix freely with the remaining population
- Marked organisms may not have adequate time to mix with the rest
- Does not consider the effects of weather on the organisms' behavior
(c)
- Quadrant method
- Belt transect method
- Line transect method
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