[Campbell Biology P.1240] In the 'INTERPRET THE DATA' section of Figure 53.2, it asks to cons... | Practice Question

In the 'INTERPRET THE DATA' section of Figure 53.2, it asks to consider a scenario where none of the 44 dolphins encountered in the second sampling had been photographed before. Based on the mark-recapture formula N = sn/x , what would be the conclusion regarding the ability to solve for N and the implication for population size?

  • A: You could solve for N, and it would suggest a very small population.
  • B: You could solve for N, and it would suggest an infinitely large population.
  • C: You could not solve for N because x would be zero, suggesting that the population is either extremely large or the marked individuals did not mix back into the population.
  • D: You could not solve for N, which means the mark-recapture method is fundamentally flawed for dolphins.

Explanation

The mark-recapture formula is N = sn/x. If 'x' the number of marked individuals recaptured in the second sample is zero, then the denominator becomes zero, making N undefined. This result strongly suggests that either the population is so large that the chance of recapturing a marked individual is negligible, or the marked individuals did not mix back into the population as assumed, making the method invalid under these conditions.