During a biodiversity sampling exercise, an undergraduate found 52 species of bees in one area of campus yet calculated that there were probably 72 species of bees in that specific area of the campus. Why is there typically a discrepancy between the number of different species caught and the calculated value of how many species probably exist in an area?
A)All the species in the taxonomic group may actually belong to a different taxonomic group.
B)The methods used to catch a specific taxonomic group may not be enticing to all species of the group.
C)The time when traps were set out may not be when some species of the taxonomic group are active.
D)Without sequencing the genomes of all the species caught, you cannot know how many there are.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The discrepancy arises because the methods used may not attract all species equally, and some species may not be active during the sampling period.

During a Biodiversity Sampling Exercise, an Undergraduate Found 52 Species