The data below were gathered in a lab that simulated a mark/recapture exercise. The actual population from which the samples were drawn was 300 individuals. By graphical and statistical means analyze the data and determine which initial sample size provides the best estimate of population size.
Student Number Marked Number Recap Marked Recap Estimate of Pop Size McKay 25 25 4 156.3 Dresser 25 25 3 208 Goodreau 25 25 2 312.5 Combs 25 25 2 312.5 Tasker 25 25 1 625 Podgorni 50 50 9 277.78 McAlister 50 50 9 277.78 Keyser 50 50 14 178.57 Audet 50 50 10 250 Vallee 50 50 10 250 Bacon 100 100 37 270.27 Rasmussen 100 100 38 263.2 Laliberte 100 100 29 345 Sanborn 100 100 31 322.6 Papp 100 100 42 238