Estimation of the size of a closed population when capture probabilities vary among animals

Abstract

A model which allows capture probabilities to vary by individuals is introduced for multiple recapture studies n closed populations. The set of individual capture probabilities is modelled as a random sample from an arbitrary probability distribution over the unit interval. We show that the capture frequencies are a sufficient statistic. A nonparametric estimator of population size is developed based on the generalized jackknife; this estimator is found to be a linear combination of the capture frequencies. Finally, tests of underlying assumptions are presented.