One of the field studies offered to students attending Huntsman field courses is periwinkle mark/recapture. This field study introduces students to a method that is commonly used by scientists and researchers to estimate animal populations.
To complete this study students visit the intertidal zone twice, the first time to mark a set number of periwinkles and the second time to collect marked and unmarked specimens. Data is also collected on the distance and direction the marked periwinkles moved. Analyzing the data allows students to get an estimate of the periwinkle population and also their rate of movement.
Collecting the periwinkles.
Marking the periwinkles.
