Semiparametric estimation of animal abundance using capture-recapture data from open populations

Abstract

A semiparametric partially linear model for the size of an open population is proposed and inference is conducted using weighted martingale estimating equations. This extends a previous nonparametric approach to modeling capture-recapture data for open populations with frequent capture occasions. Analytic expressions for the large sample variances are derived and these are confirmed in a simulation study. The method is illustrated on monthly penguin banding data collected over 6 years.