1. How do scientists estimate the size of a population?

2. Which population would be easier to estimate?
Discuss with a partner, then answer for your warm up.

3. Methods to estimate population size
Direct counting
Distance counting
Camera Traps
Mark and Recapture

4. In your Table of Contents
Date Title Page Symbol
8/29 Mark-Recapture Lab 7
8/29 Lab Reflections 8

5. Mark - Recapture Lab:
Determining the size of a population

6. Reflection: Mark and recapture lab (p.8)
Draw what you did in today’s lab so that an adult could understand it. Color and label as needed.
Have an adult at home sign your drawing.

7. Extension: Random Sampling Technique
A technique called sampling can be used to estimate population size. In this procedure, the organisms in a few small areas are counted and projected to the entire area. For instance, if a biologist counts 10 squirrels living in a 200-square foot area, she could predict that there are 100 squirrels living in a 2000 square foot area. This is a simple ratio A biologist collected 50 liters of pond water and counted 10 mosquito larvae. How many larvae would you estimate to be in that pond if the total volume of water in the pond was 80,000 liters? Show work What are some problems with this technique? What could affect its accuracy?