Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Biodiversity

Biodiversity — practice question

The passage below describes one technique a student used to estimate the population size of an animal species. Fill in the gaps using the most appropriate scientific term or terms.
(main)[6]

A student estimated the size of an animal population using the mark-release-__________ technique. This can be used only for __________ animals such as mice. The student trapped a sample of mice using humane traps. The student then marked the mice in a way that did not __________ them. For example, the mark did not make them easier for potential __________ to spot. The student released the marked mice and allowed enough time for them to randomly __________ with the population. The student then trapped a second sample of mice and recorded the numbers of marked and unmarked mice. The student estimated the population size by multiplying the number of mice in the first sample by the number in the second sample, then dividing by the number of __________ mice in the second sample.

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