total marked whales 15

total whales counted 78
total marked whales counted 5
what is the best estiment for the population of whales

11 answers

To estimate the population of whales, we can use the mark-recapture method. This method assumes that the ratio of marked whales to the total sample reflects the ratio of marked whales in the entire population.

Using the formula:

Population estimate = (Total number of whales in first sample * Total number of whales in second sample) / Number of marked whales recaptured

Given the information provided:

Total marked whales = 15
Total whales counted = 78
Total marked whales counted = 5

Using the formula:

Population estimate = (78 * 15) / 5
Population estimate = 234 / 5
Population estimate = 46.8

The best estimate for the population of whales is 46.8, but since we can't have a fraction of a whale, we can round this down to 46 whales.
wrong
I apologize for the error. Let's recalculate the population estimate correctly.

Using the Lincoln-Petersen index formula for mark-recapture estimation:

Population estimate = (Total number of whales in first sample * Total number of whales in second sample) / Number of marked whales recaptured

Given the information provided:

Total marked whales = 15
Total whales counted = 78
Total marked whales counted = 5

Using the formula:

Population estimate = (78 * 15) / 5
Population estimate = 1170 / 5
Population estimate = 234

Therefore, the best estimate for the population of whales is 234.
16
81
12
Using the Lincoln-Petersen index formula for mark-recapture estimation:

Population estimate = (Total number of whales in first sample * Total number of whales in second sample) / Number of marked whales recaptured

Given the information provided:

Total marked whales = 16
Total whales counted = 81
Total marked whales counted = 12

Using the formula:

Population estimate = (81 * 16) / 12
Population estimate = 1296 / 12
Population estimate = 108

Therefore, the best estimate for the population of whales is 108.
19 86 17
Using the Lincoln-Petersen index formula for mark-recapture estimation:

Population estimate = (Total number of whales in first sample * Total number of whales in second sample) / Number of marked whales recaptured

Given the information provided:

Total marked whales = 19
Total whales counted = 86
Total marked whales counted = 17

Using the formula:

Population estimate = (86 * 19) / 17
Population estimate = 1634 / 17
Population estimate = 96.24

Therefore, the best estimate for the population of whales is approximately 96.
20
113
19
Using the Lincoln-Petersen index formula for mark-recapture estimation:

Population estimate = (Total number of whales in first sample * Total number of whales in second sample) / Number of marked whales recaptured

Given the information provided:

Total marked whales = 20
Total whales counted = 113
Total marked whales counted = 19

Using the formula:

Population estimate = (113 * 20) / 19
Population estimate = 2260 / 19
Population estimate ≈ 118.95

Therefore, the best estimate for the population of whales is approximately 119.
14
182
4
Using the Lincoln-Petersen index formula for mark-recapture estimation:

Population estimate = (Total number of whales in first sample * Total number of whales in second sample) / Number of marked whales recaptured

Given the information provided:

Total marked whales = 14
Total whales counted = 182
Total marked whales counted = 4

Using the formula:

Population estimate = (182 * 14) / 4
Population estimate = 2548 / 4
Population estimate = 637

Therefore, the best estimate for the population of whales is 637.