A general theory for modeling capture-recapture data from a closed population.

Abstract

A general theory for estimating the size of a closed population from multiple-recapture data is presented. This theory is easily extended to open population models for multiple-recapture data. Estimation is based on a log-linear model developed for modeling dependent capture-recapture data when capture probabilities vary temporally with behavioral response and are heterogeneous among animals. Models for complete capture history data are developed along with the first log-linear models for removal data. The maximum likelihood estimator of the model parameters along with the estimated covariance matrix are presented.