General Ecology with field biology (BIOL 30065)

ACTIVITY NO. : 4
Population: Estimation Using Capture-Mark-Recapture Technique,
TITLE: :
Mortality and Age Distribution
STUDY AREA : Field and Laboratory
DURATION : 2 days
DATA COLLECTION : Collated

OBJECTIVES : 1. Apply the capture-mark-recapture method in estimating population size

2. Identify the assumptions that were not met if the estimate is far from the
actual population size.

METHODOLOGY:

A. Materials
 Population Estimates using CMR technique
1-kilogram white beans bucket scissors
plastic cup marker
 Population Mortality
pen paper
 Population Age Distribution
pen paper

B. Procedures

Population Estimates Using CMR technique

1. Place 50 white beans in a plastic cup. Mark the height reached by the beans. Remove the beans and
cut the plastic cup along this mark. This will be the scooper.
2. Place 1 kilogram of white beans in a plastic bucket.
3. Get a scoop of the beans and scatter the beans on the table.
4. Using the permanent marker, mark the beans with “m” (marked). Count and record the number of
marked beans.
5. Return the marked beans back into the bucket. Mix all the beans thoroughly.
6. Get another scoop of beans and scatter the on the table. Look for beans which were previously
marked, mark these beans as “r” (recaptured). Look for the unmarked beans, mark these beans with
“m” (marked). Add the total number of marked and recaptured beans. Record the resulting sum as
“n” (total number)
7. Repeat this step for 5 times.
8. Record the data in a table similar to the one below:

i Ci Ri New Marked Mi

Where Mi = the total number of previously marked animals at the time i

Ci = the number caught at the time i
Ri = the marked number of marked animals caught at time i

9. Compute the population using the formula:

A.S. Coronado, PhD., A.M. Guinto, V.A. Romero, A.N. Caril and LJM.G. Arocha
Department of Biology, College of Science
Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Mabini Campus
 General Ecology with field biology (BIOL 30065)

10. Compute for the variance of the estimate using the formula:
S2 = m2n(n-r)/r3
11. Compute for the standard deviation by taking the square root of the variance.
12. Report the estimated population size as an estimate of with an estimate with a 95% confidence limit.
(p ± 1.96sd)
13. Compare the population estimate and the actual number. Compute for the relative error for the
differences.
Er = ((Pe – Pa)/Pa) x 100
Where: Pe = estimated value
Pa = actual value

Population Age Distribution

1. Choose a barangay as the study site.

2. Make a random sampling of 100 males and 100 females in the area. Individual households can be
sampled to make the task easier. Make sure to record family members with different ages to avoid
statistical bias.
3. For each individual sampled, record the date of birth and the age.
4. Distribute the individuals into particular age classes such as 1 – 10, 11 – 20, 21 – 30 and so on.
5. Determine the ecological ages (such as pre – reproductive, reproductive and post – reproductive) of
the individuals.
6. Calculate the percentages of total population for each age category in the region assigned to you.
7. Construct an age structure diagram or bar graph. The age groups will run up the Y axis with the
8. youngest at the bottom, oldest at the top. The percentages of the population will be plotted along
the X-axis.
9. Based on the shape of the age pyramid you constructed, describe the population.

Population Mortality

1. Visit a local cemetery and record the age and year of birth of 100 male and 100 female individuals.
2. Calculate the age at death for each individual.
3. Place individuals into 5-year age categories (separate tables for males and females). The first
category should be 0-5 and so on.
4. Determine the number of deaths in each age category.
5. Determine the number of individuals surviving from birth. Start by placing a 0 in the lowest box of
the column. To determine the next box up, add to the 0 the number of deaths that appears to the
left and 1 column up. The top box in this column should be the number of tombstones counted.
6. Determine lx – the proportion alive at the start of age interval x. The first box should be 1.0. The
second box = # surviving / Total.

7. Standardize the life table per 1000 to allow for comparisons of life tables.
nx = lx(1000) for each age category
8. Calculate the Log10 of lx for each time interval. This data will be used to graph survivorship curves.
9. Calculate dx for each age category.
dx = nx – nx+1
10. Calculate qx for each age category.
qx = dx / nx

A.S. Coronado, PhD., A.M. Guinto, V.A. Romero, A.N. Caril and LJM.G. Arocha
Department of Biology, College of Science
Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Mabini Campus
 General Ecology with field biology (BIOL 30065)

11. Calculate the expectation for further life. In order to do this, construct a column called Tx, the sum
of all the nx’s up to that age category. So, Tx (0-4) would be the total of the entire nx column. Tx
(5-9) = Tx (0-4) - nx(0-4) and so on.
12. Calculate expectation for future life for each age category as follows, ex = tx / nx
13. Note that ex is expressed in the number of age categories of additional life expected. Since each age
category spans 5 years, you simply multiple each ex by 5 To convert this value to years.

The life table should be similar to this.

Age No. of No. Prop(lx) nx lx Dx qx Tx ex Years

Category deaths Surviving Log10

14. Construct the survivorship curve.

A.S. Coronado, PhD., A.M. Guinto, V.A. Romero, A.N. Caril and LJM.G. Arocha
Department of Biology, College of Science
Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Mabini Campus