KA 1: field techniques for biologists: monitoring populations

Question 1

what can give info of environmental qualities, such a presence of a pollutant?

Answer 1

presence, absence or abundance of indicator species

Question 2

what can be used to monitor an ecosystem?

Answer 2

susceptible and favoured species

Question 3

what does the absence or reduced population indicate about a species?

Answer 3

-its susceptible to some factor in the environment

Question 4

what does the abundance or increased population of a species indicate?

Answer 4

its favoured by the conditions

Question 5

the formula for procedure for the mark and recapture technique as a method for estimating population size is:

Answer 5

N= MC/R

Question 6

explain each letter in the N=MC/R formula

Answer 6

M=NO. in first capture

C= NO. in second capture

R= NO. marked in second recapture

N= population estimate

Question 7

what does the method N=MC/R assume?

Answer 7

-all individuals have an equal chance of capture

-there is no immigration or emigration

-individuals that are marked and released can
mix fully and randomly with the total population

Question 8

list methods of marking animals

Answer 8

-banding

-tagging

-surgical implantation

-painting

-hair clipping

Question 9

the method of marking and subsequent observation must…

Answer 9

minimise the impact on the study species