A Regression Method for Mark-Recapture Estimation of Population Size with Unequal Catchability

The assumption of equal catchability of marked and unmarked animals in mark—recapture sampling is examined. Violation of this assumption may come from two basic sources, heterogeneity or contagion, and both produce a bias in the estimate of population size. Two approaches to this problem are discussed. First, it is noted that bias can be avoided by statistically independent sampling procedures for marking and recapturing. Second, a new...