Question

rhonda manages wildlife samples for ducks unlimited. two samples of duck populations at a migratory site are shown in the table below. which statement about the samples is true?

duck pond samples

sample 1		sample 2
wood duck	3	wood duck	1
green wing teal	10	green wing teal	1
american widgeon	8	american widgeon	0

• rhonda needs to continue taking samples of ducks until both samples have at least one of each type of duck.
• rhonda should take a third sample and then use the two that are most representative since these samples vary quite a bit.
• rhonda should use both of these samples as they are to make inferences about the average population of each type of duck in the pond.
• both samples must be biased because there are more mallards than any other type of duck recorded in the sample.

Explanation:

1. The first option is incorrect: samples don't require every duck type to be present to be useful, as some species may naturally be rare.
2. The second option is incorrect: combining or using existing samples is better than discarding them; adding a third sample can supplement, but not replace, using the data already collected.
3. The third option is correct: combining multiple independent samples provides a larger, more robust dataset to estimate average population sizes, accounting for natural variation between samples.
4. The fourth option is incorrect: having more Mallards in samples likely reflects their actual higher population density in the pond, not bias.

Answer:

Rhonda should use both of these samples as they are to make inferences about the average population of each type of duck in the pond.