Petersen and removal population size estimates: combining methods to adjust and interpret results when assumptions are violated

We present ways to test the assumptions of the Petersen and removal methods of population size estimation and ways to adjust the estimates if violations of the assumptions are found. We were motivated by the facts that (1) results of using both methods are commonly reported without any reference to the testing of assumptions, (2) violations of the assumptions are more likely to occur than not to occur in natural populations, and (3) the...