How do scientists extrapolate the total number of species on Earth?
Scientists take the following steps to estimate the total number of species on Earth:
(a) Selecting an exhaustively studied group of insects.
(b) Comparing its number of species in the tropics with that in the subtropics.
(c) Extrapolating this ratio to estimate the number of other species.
(d) Finally, the total estimate of the number of species on Earth is made.