- #1
jmm
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Homework Statement
I was given two problems and required to calculate some statistics/parameters for them. They are:
1) The Vancouver Island Marmot is one of Canada’s most endangered species; there are currently only 63 animals left on the Island. To maintain the population, geneticists believe it is important to keep the population above 60 animals to avoid inbreeding depression. This winter is anticipated to be particularly harsh, and it is expected that the over wintering probability of death could be 0.08.
2) You are a wildlife biologist surveying Grizzly bear populations in Banff National Park. Based on your previous research, you know that there is an average of 0.34 bears/km2 in the park.
The calculations aren't what's really troubling me, I'm just having a hard time deciding whether these would be best modeled by a Poisson or binomial distribution.
Homework Equations
n/a
The Attempt at a Solution
I think a Poisson distribution would fit best for both because they describe occurrences that take place per unit of time or space, but I have trouble with deciding.
Thanks.
Edit: The more I think about it, I'm starting to think that number 1) might just be a binomial distribution. There's 63 trials each with a probability of 'success' of 0.08. Almost like a weighted coin flip.
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