LAB Estimating Population Size.docx - Student Name Period...

Student Name _______________________ Period ____
LAB: Estimating Population Size
Can you tell by looking at the meadow how many grasshoppers live the difficulties you might
encounter if you tried to determine the POI grasshoppers by simply examining the meadow.
What are some take to make a more accurate estimate of the population size?
Table 1. Number of Grasshoppers Collected During Each Capture
First Capture
Date: July 19
Second Capture
Date: July 26
Number of Grasshoppers in
First Capture and Marked (M)
Total Number of
Grasshoppers in Second
Capture, including both
Marked and Unmarked (n)
Number of Marked
Grasshoppers in Second
Capture (R)
Calculate the estimated population using the data you collected.
Estimate the population of grasshoppers in one acre of this meadow. Use the Lincoln Index
(P=Mn/R), where
P = estimated population
M = number of grasshoppers in initial capture and marked
n = total number of grasshoppers in second capture, including marked and unmarked
R = number of marked grasshoppers in second capture