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Estimating N: A Robust Approach to Capture Heterogeneity

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Modeling Demographic Processes In Marked Populations

Part of the book series: Environmental and Ecological Statistics ((ENES,volume 3))

Abstract

We evaluate the performance of a new mixture model for heterogeneity in capture probability when estimating the size of a closed population of wild animals. The new model expresses the capture probability as a mixture of a binomial distribution and a beta-binomial distribution. For real data sets, it is shown how the new model can provide a suitable framework for model discrimination. When there is no best model from within the family of models represented by the new mixture, we recommend adopting a conservative approach to estimating population size.

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Correspondence to Byron J.T. Morgan .

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Morgan, B.J., Ridout, M.S. (2009). Estimating N: A Robust Approach to Capture Heterogeneity. In: Thomson, D.L., Cooch, E.G., Conroy, M.J. (eds) Modeling Demographic Processes In Marked Populations. Environmental and Ecological Statistics, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-78151-8_49

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