A GENERAL-THEORY FOR MODELING CAPTURE-RECAPTURE DATA FROM A CLOSED POPULATION

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