JOINT MODELING OF LIVE-RECAPTURE, TAG-RESIGHT, AND TAG-RECOVERY DATA

We propose a model for a mark-recapture experiment with resightings ob tained from marked animals any time between capture periods and throug hout the geographic range of the animals. The likelihood is described for random movement of animals in and out of the capture site, and clo sed-form maximum likelihood estimators are reported. We show that the estimator is equivalent to that suggested by Jolly (1965, Biomekika 52 , 239) but is only valid under the random emigration assumption. The m odel provides a common framework for most of the widely used mark-reca pture models including live-recapture, tag-recovery, and tag-resight m odels and allows simultaneous analysis of data obtained in all three w ays.