What are the pros and cons of the mark and recapture technique?

Answer 1

The mark and recapture technique is valuable for estimating wildlife populations, allowing researchers to gather data on species abundance and movement patterns. Pros include the ability to study elusive or wide-ranging species and the generation of reliable population estimates. However, cons include potential biases introduced by factors like trap shyness or trap happy behaviors, as well as the assumption that marked individuals mix randomly with the unmarked population. Additionally, the method can be labor-intensive and may not be suitable for all species or environments.