An undergraduate student research assistant is attempting to help estimate the population size of a prairie dog colony, and completes several counts using mark-recapture methods. Which factors, other than reproductive rate and survivorship, would be necessary to consider when using the data to construct a life table and estimate the population size and future over time?
A) immigration or emigration of individuals to and from the population
B) reproductive rate and survivorship data are sufficient, nothing else is necessary
C) population size of a nearby colony
D) whether the burrows are clumped, uniform, or randomly distributed across the landscape

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Immigration and emigration can significantly affect population size and dynamics, so they must be considered in addition to reproductive rate and survivorship when estimating population size and constructing a life table.

An Undergraduate Student Research Assistant Is Attempting to Help Estimate