Which of the following methods would provide the most legitimate data on population density?
A) Count the number of nests of a particular species of songbird and multiply this by two (because there are two parent birds per nest).
B) Count the number of pine trees in several randomly selected 10-m × 10-m plots and extrapolate this number to the fraction of the study area that these plots represent.
C) Use the mark-and-recapture method to estimate the size of the population.
D) Calculate the difference between all of the immigrants and emigrants to see if the population is growing or shrinking.
E) Add the number of births and subtract the number of individuals that die to see if the population's density is increasing or decreasing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Counting the number of pine trees in randomly selected plots and extrapolating to the study area provides a direct measure of population density, as it involves actual counts in defined areas.

Which of the Following Methods Would Provide the Most Legitimate