The foundations
for the capture-recapture method were established in 1812
by French mathematician Pierre
Laplace, considered by some to be
the father of probability.
In 1896, Carl George
Johannes Petersen, a Danish fisheries scientist,
published the results of a study in which he estimated
the size of a fish population using the capture-recapture
method and brass tags he invented.
The US Census Bureau
has considered using the principles of the
capture-recapture method to help count
the homeless population in
large urban areas. |
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Biologists
use a number of different ways to mark
individuals in a capture-recapture study. Birds
are typically fitted with leg
bands. Turtles receive non-corroding metal
or plastic tags. Large
mammals, such as elk or bear, often are fitted with ear
tags or radio collars. Migrating salmon are
sometimes equipped with tiny
microchips inserted under the skin.
To estimate deer populations, wildlife biologists
take a picture from an airplane
and then count the number of deer in the photograph.
In Iowa, the rooster
pheasant population is estimated by rural mail carriers,
who count the cackles
that roosters make early in the day. |