To determine the term best describing the total number of Mallards in the pond, consider the relevant data provided in the table. Let's identify and count the Mallards:
- From Sample 1, the number of Mallards is 12.
- From the next sample, the number of Mallards is 13.
To find the total number of Mallards, add these two numbers together:
[tex]\[ \text{Total Number of Mallards} = 12 + 13 = 25 \][/tex]
Based on the given options, the best term to describe this total is:
- "Mallard population"
Thus, the term that best describes the total number of Mallards in the pond is "Mallard population."