Researchers marked 800 turtles in a population, and six months later they were able to trap a total of 300 more individuals, of which 150 were marked. Which of the following is the best estimate of the total population size?
A) 200
B) 1,050
C) 1,600
D) 2,100

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best estimate of the total population size can be calculated using the mark-recapture method formula: $N = \frac{M \times n}{m}$, where $N$ is the total population size, $M$ is the number of individuals initially marked (800), $n$ is the total number of individuals captured in the second sample (300), and $m$ is the number of marked individuals recaptured in the second sample (150). Plugging in the numbers: $N = \frac{800 \times 300}{150} = 1,600$.

Researchers Marked 800 Turtles in a Population, and Six Months