BIOLOGY PRACTICAL REPORTS FOR FORM 4

Activity 8.6 (practical textbook page 113)

Objective : To estimate the population size of garden snails using capture, mark, release and
recapture technique.
Apparatus: a paintbrush, a bottle of Indian ink, a pen and a notebook
Technique: count the total number of garden snails captured, marked, released and recaptured
Procedure:
1. A suitable location within the school compound is selected for this activity.
2. As many garden snails as possible is captured from three different places, A, B and C, within
that location.
3. The garden snails that are captured are counted and their shells marked with a small dot of
Indian ink.
4. The marked snails are then released in the same place where they were found.
5. After seven days, as many gardens snails as possible are captured once again from the same
place.
6. The total number of garden snails captured are counted and the number of those which had
been marked are also counted.
7. The results are recorded in a table of results.
8. The population size of garden snails is determined using the following formula:
Population size

ab
= c
no. of animals in 1st sample x no. of animals in 2nd sample
=
no. of marked animals in 2nd sample

9. Safety precaution: The snails must be captured randomly and enough time must be given for
the marked and unmarked snails to mix with the rest of the population.
Results:
Location

A
B
C

Total number of
snails in the
first capture (a)
10
8
10

Second capture
Estimated population
ab
Total number
Total number of
= c
of snails (b)
snails (c)
12
4
30
9
2
36
9
3
30

Discussion:
1.

What is the population size of garden snails in your school compound?

Location A 30
Location B 36
Location C 30

2.

Why are the garden snails released into their habitat after they are marked?
This is to allow them to mingle with the other garden snails again.

3.

The material used to mark the garden snails is miportant. Why is Indian ink used?
Indian ink is used as it is waterproof, non-toxic, does not hinder the snails movement or
make it an easy target for predators.

4.

How can the accuracy of the data is improved?

The accuracy of the data can be improved by taking larger samples. The snails must be
captured randomly and enough time must be given for the marked and unmarked snails to
mix with the rest of the population.

5.

Why are some of the data obtained by capture, mark, release and recapture technique
unreliable? Explain.
This is because the population under study does not take into account factors like birth,
mortality, immigration and emigration.

Conclusion:
The population size of garden snails can be estimated using capture, mark, release and
recapture technique.