Analysis of Field Data:
Pringelus vulgaris
|
Living |
Dead |
|
||
|
Unmarked |
Marked |
Unmarked |
Marked |
Totals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
0 |
2 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
2 |
|
2 |
4 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
2 |
|
0 |
2 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
1 |
The main objective in this field experiment is to recapture the Pringelus ridiculus and Pringelus vulgaris. The shape of our quadrant was a circle and its radius was 25 cm, having a total area of 1962.5 cm2. There were two species of the Pringelus to recapture: what distinguishes them is the difference in the color of their carapace. One of the species has a clear carapace, P. ridiculus, and the other has a red coloration, P. vulgaris. We sampled 10 quadrats to sample the Pringelus and they were either to the left of the right of the meter line. The data table bellows shows how many Pringelus we have captured per quadrat:
If compared to other groups gathered information, we did not collect many P. vulgaris and P. ridiculus. This was due to the small surface area of our quadrat.
The total amount of Pringelus gathered was10 and the mean is 1 Pringelus species per quadrat, dead or alive. The variance is 1.78 and the standard error is 0.4. Due to the limited amount of space that we sampled per quadrat we are unable to say whether the P. vulgaris or the P. ridiculus is a colonial or a territorial species. We would have to analyze another group’s information that had a larger quadrat surface area to claim such an idea. So, in totality we captured 1.0 +/- 0.4 species of Pringelus per quadrat.
The degree of quadrat radii size varied from 25 cm to 150cm, with an increment of 25cm. Due to the receipt of the radius of 25cm our quadrat wasn’t up to scale to claim whether there were any relationships between quadrat size and any of the population properties that we’ve estimated. This is blatantly conveyed in the graphs. The mean amount of the Pringelus recaptured per quadrant was 1 and in the graphs it shows that some were barely in any of the quadrat’s we measured.
G-1.1 This graph conveys the relationship
between the P. ridiculus per quadrat.
G-1.2 This graph conveys the relationship
between the P. vulgaris per quadrat.
G-1.3 This graph shows the relationship between
the dead P. vulgaris per quadrat. This
graph
only shows the amount of dead P. vulgaris due to the
recapture of only dead \P. vulgaris. There were no deceased P. ridiculus
captured.
G-1.4 This is the total amount of the species Pringulus captured, with red or clear carapace and dead or
alive. This shows the displacement of
the species over the quadrats measured.
In any situation, assuming that effort = quadrat area, the best size would not be the largest or the smallest, but in between. Out of all the quadrat area sizes I would assume that the 75cm would be the best quadrat size, but the closest radius used was 50cm. This would be the best size because the Pringelus would have enough space to forage and to look for a mate. Also if it ever needed to move to another location within that radius of 50 cm it is large enough so that he would not have to move into another Pringelus’ territory, if they were territorial creatures. Also if were to assume that effort = quadrat size having a surface area with a radius of 50 cm, the Pringelus would not be using its maximum energy and it would be conserved for other purposes, such as searching for a mate or for defense purposes, etc…
If the P. vulgaris and P. ridiculus occupied only 60m2 the calculated population size would be 31 P. vulgaris and P. ridiculus in that areao of 60m2. By using the mark-recapture methods and with the knowledge that there were originally 176 Pringelus that were marked, we can say that the calculated population size by using the equation: N = MC/R, is 114 P. ridiculus and P. vulgaris.
The
initial capture was 176 Pringelus and the second
recapture was 114 Pringelus. We captured 62 less species of Pringelus in the second recapture. Such errors can be achieved by many
means. One such mean would be the fact
that the death rate has gone up due to their predators. Another main reason for the decrease in
population size would be the loss of resources.
The Pringelus might have spread out in their
habitat to fully utilize their use of their natural resources. Another factor might be from their
interactions with humans or any larger creatures that might cause them
harm. I know I stepped on quite a few in
the field causing a decrease in their population size.