Question

Give at least 5 reasons why it would be difficult to do a direct count of a population?

Answer 1

Check out the explanation

Explanation:

1. Size of population
   If the population is too big, it would be difficult trying to do a direct count for the whole population. Very small populations could be directly counted.

2. Dispersion
   The dispersion pattern in a certain geographic range can differ depending on the population. Populations usually are dispersed in clumped or uniform. If a population is randomly dispersed (e.g. dandelions in a field), it could be harder to determine how many species are in a population.

3. Geographic range
   If the geographic range is too big, it would take a longer time for ecologists to determine the size of a population. Ecologists could break down the geographic range into sectors to estimate the total population for the whole range.

4. Density
   Populations are always changing (birth/death rates, immigration, emigration, etc). If there are many fluctuations, it would be hard to get an accurate count. Some mathematical models can account for different rates. Ecologists may employ the mark-recapture method.

5. Physical/Environmental factors
   Physical and environmental factors can play a role to determine population size. Members of a population can vary their traits. Certain traits can be unnoticeable, such as camouflage, making it harder to directly count a population.

There are other factors, but these are the ones I was able to come up with.