How do you conduct capture recapture experiment using coloured beads?

Answer 1

Take beads of two different colours eg 450 red and 50 yellow. The yellow beads represent animls which have been caught and marked. They are then 'released' thoroughly mixed with the red beads. You then take a random sample of the mixed beads in such a way that you cannot see the colour when you select them eg from a paper bag or with your eyes closed. You connt the number of red beads and yellow beads (the recaptured individuals) and calculate the total number of beads (the population size) using this formula: total number of organisms = [number in first sample x number in second sample] / number of organisms recaptured You can experiment with different sample sizes to see how reliable the method is.

Answer 2

To conduct a capture-recapture experiment with colored beads, start by releasing a known number of beads of one color into a closed, defined area. After allowing time for the beads to mix and settle, randomly capture a sample of beads from the area and record the number of each color captured. Release the captured beads back into the area, then repeat the process. By comparing the proportion of each color in the original sample to the recaptured sample, you can estimate the total population size.