A researcher studying apple maggot flies marks 180 flies in an orchid in Michigan. The next day, she collects 70 flies and finds that 14 are marked. If the assumptions of the mark-recapture method are met, what is the best estimate for the number of apple maggot flies in that orchid?
A) 180
B) 900
C) 980
D) 1,800

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mark-recapture method estimates population size using the formula: (number of marked individuals in the first sample * total number of individuals in the second sample) / number of marked individuals recaptured. Here, (180 * 70) / 14 = 900.

A Researcher Studying Apple Maggot Flies Marks 180 Flies in an Orchid