AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Estimating Closed Population Size and Number of Marked Animals from Sighting Data

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1991
Authors:A. Arnason, N, Schwarz, CJ, Gerrard, JM
Journal:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Volume:55
Issue:4
Date Published:1991
ISBN Number:0022541X
Keywords:Accipitridae, Haliaeetus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Abstract:We describe a new estimator of population size that can be formed when independent sightings are made of marked and unmarked animals in a closed population where a subset of the population is individually marked. Each marked animal must bear a unique mark but the number of marked animals alive in the population is unknown. The estimate can be used when no recaptures or removals of animals are possible during the experiment. An example is estimating the number of immature bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) on a lake some years after banding of nestlings. We derive the maximum likelihood estimates for population size and number of marks, and we show how to develop confidence intervals and perform goodness-of-fit tests. Criteria are developed for determining the number of sightings required to yield satisfactory estimates.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3809524
Short Title:The Journal of Wildlife Management
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith