GCSE Maths (Edexcel)

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Petersen Capture-Recapture Method

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Statistics Statistics

Petersen Capture-Recapture Method

6:23 Calculations From Samples
Spec S1 S5
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  • Determining the size of animal populations can be difficult
  • Tagging or marking animals is one way to keep track of them, but it can be costly and time-consuming for large populations
  • The Peterson capture recapture method is an alternative way to estimate wildlife populations
  • The method involves capturing and tagging a sample of animals, releasing them back into the wild, and then capturing a second sample to count the number of tagged animals
  • The proportion of tagged animals in the second sample is assumed to be the same as the proportion in the population, allowing for the estimation of the population size
  • The formula for estimating the population size is: size of population = (size of first sample * size of second sample) / number tagged in second sample
  • The capture recapture method relies on certain assumptions, such as the population remaining unchanged between samples and all animals having an equal chance of being captured
  • Potential issues with the method include changes in the population, variations in capture probability, and the loss of tags.

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