Name: Raymond

Date: 10/19/2015

Instructor’s Name:

Assignment: SCI103 Phase 2 Lab Report2

TITLE: Estimating the Red Wolf Population

INSTRUCTIONS: Enter the Virtual Lab and gather information from the field. Please type your answers on this form. When your lab report is complete, submit it to the Submitted Assignments area of the Virtual Classroom.

Part I – Answer the following questions while in the Phase 2 lab environment.

Section 1 (Smaller Population Estimation) – One year ago, you set up your first trap area and caught four red wolves. Each one of the wolves was marked with a white collar. It is now one year later and you have set up six trap areas. Visit these areas and record the total number of re-captured wolves as well as how many are marked with white collars.

Use the following equation when asked to calculate population estimates for the area:

Population Estimate = (Total number re-captured) X (Number marked initially) (Total number re-captured with mark)

1. How many red wolves were initially trapped, marked, and then released last year?

| |Total re-captured wolves |Total re-captured with collars |
|Trap Area 1 |2 |1 |
|Trap Area 2 |3 |0 |
|Trap Area 3 |2 |1 |
|Trap Area 4 |1 |0 |
|Trap Area 5 |0 |0 |
|Trap Area 6 |3 |0 |
|Totals |11 |2 |

2. What was the total number of re-captured red wolves from areas 1 to 6? There were 11 red wolves captured , 2 red wolves were recaptured, with white collars in are 1 and area 3 there were no wolves captured in area 5

3. What was the total number of marked red wolves (re-captured with white collars) from areas 1 to 6? Only 2 were re-captured in area 1 and 3

4. Using the provided equation, calculate the population estimate for the geographical area: 11 x number marked Initially 4 / total Re-captured with mark 2 Equals 22 population estimate for the geo area. 11x4 = 44/2 = 22 5. The actual population size is 22 red wolves. How did your calculated estimate compare with the actual population size revealed here? The population is 22, I took 11x 4 = 44/2 =22 population for geo area.

Section 2 (Larger Population Estimation) – One year ago, you set up your first trap area and caught fifteen red wolves. Each one of the wolves was marked with a white collar. It is now one year later and you have set up ten trap areas. Visit these areas and record your results.

6. How many red wolves were initially trapped, marked, and then released last year?

| |Total re-captured wolves |Total re-captured with collars |
|Trap Area 1 |11 |0 |
|Trap Area 2 |8 |3 |
|Trap Area 3 |7 |1 |
|Trap Area 4 |6 |2 |
|Trap Area 5 |8 |0 |
|Trap Area 6 |9 |2 |
|Trap Area 7 |8 |0 |
|Trap Area 8 |10 |3 |
|Trap Area 9 |7 |1 |
|Trap Area 10 |12 |2 |
|Totals |86 |14 |

7. What was the total number of re-captured red wolves from areas 1 to 10? 86 re-captured 8. What was the total number of marked red wolves (re-captured with white collars) from areas 1 to 10? 14 red wolves with white collars were re-captured.

9. Using the equation provided, calculate the population estimate for the geographical area: Re-captured 86 X Number Mark Initially 15 / total Re-captured with Mark 14 population for the geo area 86 x 15 = 1290/14 = 92 10. The actual population size is 100 wolves. How did your calculated estimate compare with the actual population size revealed here? 8 less than actual population

Part II – For the following questions, provide your response in short answer format (2-3 sentences each). Use this Phase’s activities and resources to assist you in answering:

11. Define and explain the term ‘population’ from a Biology standpoint. Population, from a biology standpoint, it allows us to see how the population effects the environment.

12. Why is it important to sample populations from an Ecology standpoint? To see if the population has increased or decreased.

13. What are the steps involved in the Mark and Recapture Method (Lincoln-Peterson Method) in population sampling? A portion of the population is captured, marked, and released. Later, another portion is captured and the number of marked individuals within the sample is counted. Since the number of marked individuals within the second sample should be proportional to the number of marked individuals in the whole population, an estimate of the total population size can be obtained by dividing the number of marked individuals by the proportion of marked individuals in the second sample

14. Why would it be important that the data collected under the Mark and Recapture Method be gathered at the same time each year? Collect data every year, in the spring after the breading season. The data will be more accurate.