DP Biology (first assessment 2025)

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Question 19N.2.SL.TZ0.18

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Date November 2019 Marks available [Maximum mark: 6] Reference code 19N.2.SL.TZ0.18
Level SL Paper 2 Time zone TZ0
Command term Explain Question number 18 Adapted from N/A
18.
[Maximum mark: 6]
19N.2.SL.TZ0.18

Explain the technique used to estimate the population size of a named species of organism that is able to move.

[6]

Markscheme

a. named species ✔ Do not award marks for group of animals eg birds. Do not award the mark for this point if the method doesn’t apply for the species.

b. capture and count a sample of the population ✔

c. example of method of capture ✔

d. apply a mark that will not affect the survival of the animal «e.g. non-toxic paint spot/ear tag/leg ring/radio transmitter» ✔ OWTTE

e. release the organism into the environment ✔

f. allow time to become randomly dispersed ✔ OWTTE

g. capture «a second sample» and count the complete sample ✔

h. count the marked individuals in the second sample ✔

i. define formula to estimate the population size ✔ N = n 1 × n 2 n 3  where n1 = first capture, n2 = second capture, n3 = number marked in second capture.
Accept alternative displays of formula, e.g. different variables, wording displayed in a formula, etc.

j. only estimates could be obtained ✔