APES: Somethings Fishy Population Study Lab Name: Joanna Asuelo Purpose: You will be expected to estimate the

e size of a sample population using the markrecapture technique. Be able to apply the technique to new population problems and compare the mark and recapture technique to other methods of population estimating.

Background: A technique called sampling is sometimes 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. Another method in determining populations of a variety of species biologists use is called tagging. This is frequently used in our area with butterflies (namely monarchs) and fish. Sometimes the tags are stickers (in the case of butterflies), ear clips, or notches made in fins of fish. The purpose of these tags is to track migration patterns, health, and range as well as to help determine population numbers of species in an area. Determination of population occurs by capturing and tagging that sample of animals. Biologists would then release the animals and allow them to naturally redistribute themselves. By then taking random samples and determining the percent tagged, biologists are able to hypothesize the population of that species in that area. Procedure: 1. Obtain a bowl with your species in it. (fish crackers). 2. Do NOT count the number of fish in your pond yet! 3. Have one member of your group remove a large handful of fish. Write that number here: 28

4. Count the number of fish you just removed and replace these fish with tagged fish (in this case, colored fish) 5. Mix your pond well to redistribute the tagged fish among the other fish. 6. One member at a time (and without looking), remove a handful of fish and record the number of total fish in the sample, the number of tagged fish, and figure out the percentage of tagged fish. (see chart) 7. Return your handful to the bowl!! Continue with this until you have taken 20 samples. Data

Total Fish Tagged 1 Fish Percent 7 Tagged

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Mean 15 14 11 28 41 15 10 29 37 10 11 5 21 20 33 23 9 21 34 34 21.5 2 1 6 14 5 1 10 8 2 3 1 3 5 10 5 5 4 3 7 4.8

14 9

21 34 33 10 34 22 20 27 20 14 25 30 21 56 19 9

21 22

Questions: (answer on the back of this sheet) 1. What is the mean (average) of your percent tagged fish from your 20 samples? The mean was 22%. 2. Using the following formula, determine an estimated population for your pond: Population Size = total number captured x number marked (line #3 above) total number captured with mark (22*28)/5=123 3. Now, actually count the number of fish in your bowl: 144 fish 4. Find your percentage error by using the following formula: %100 x (Your estimate of population - Actual size of population) / (Actual size of population)

100*(123-144)/144= 14.58% error 5. What concerns should a biologist have about a species habits before (s)he uses this method to approximate the size of a population? A concern would be the factor of the mark that could attract predators, affecting the biologists count. Conclusion: How did you fulfill the purpose? What did you learn? I fulfilled the purpose by using the mark-recapture technique to mark the goldfish crackers. I learned the mark-recapture method is a long process, as well as this is one of the methods used to capture a species.