Abstract
SummaryMultistate capture–recapture models are a useful tool to help to understand the dynamics of movement within discrete capture–recapture data. The standard multistate capture–recapture model, however, relies on assumptions of homogeneity within the population with respect to survival, capture and transition probabilities. There are many ways in which this model can be generalized so some guidance on what is really needed is highly desirable. Within the paper we derive a new test that can detect heterogeneity in transition propensity and show its good power by using simulation and application to a Canada goose data set. We also demonstrate that existing tests which have traditionally been used to diagnose memory are in fact sensitive to other forms of transition heterogeneity and we propose modified tests which can distinguish between memory and other forms of transition heterogeneity.
Highlights
Simple capture–recapture studies collect binary information of capture or non-capture of marked individuals over a series of discrete occasions, yielding a capture history for each individual obseved within the study
Following the results of the simulation study we present an adaptation of the existing test of memory (Pradel et al, 2003) which together with the new test enables us to differentiate the property of memory from other forms of heterogeneity
Test WBWA is the only diagnostic test which examines the transitions that are exhibited by individuals in the population and it is that test which we examine more closely here
Summary
Simple capture–recapture studies collect binary information of capture or non-capture of marked individuals over a series of discrete occasions, yielding a capture history for each individual obseved within the study. The associated Cormack–Jolly–Seber model enables the estimation of survival and capture probabilities from such data. It is limited in its biological scope because it utilizes only the information of whether the animal is captured or not (Lebreton et al, 2009). Ecologists can be interested in aspects such as the geographic location for migratory birds, or their breeding status Such information is collected on the animals’ capture and recorded as states. States were defined by Lebreton and Pradel (2002) as ‘any mutually exclusive and identifiable events in the life cycle of the population under study’ They can be static, in which case they remain the same throughout the individual history (e.g. sex). The general definition of states enables multistate models to tackle a large array of biological questions; they have the ability to handle the more complex stochastic dynamic states
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