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IB Biology HL C4.1.4 Capture Mark Release Recapture Questions

Use capture-mark-release-recapture and the Lincoln index to estimate a motile population. Assess whether marked animals mix with the population, retain their marks and survive normally, and whether population movement or change could bias the estimate.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Course
Biology HL
Level
HL

Exam points

  • Describe capture-mark-release-recapture: safely capture and mark a sample, release it and allow mixing, then recapture and count marked and unmarked animals.
  • Estimate population size with the Lincoln index N = n₁ × n₂ / n₃, and explain assumptions such as adequate mixing, persistent marks, harmless marking and no major migration or population change between samples.

IB Biology HL C4.1.4 Capture Mark Release Recapture Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 3]

The diagram shows levels of DDT, a pesticide, in an aquatic food web in Lake Kariba, Africa. Numbers represent ppm (parts per million) of DDT in fat tissue.

Figure for Question IB Biology HL C4.1.4 Capture Mark Release Recapture Questions question 1 — IB Biology HL

Outline how the population size of tilapia could be estimated.

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