The use of a robust capture-recapture design in small mammal population studies: a field example with Microtus pennsylvanicus

The robust design of Pollock (1982) was used to estimate parameters of a Maryland Microtus pennsylvanicus population. Closed model tests provided strong evidence of heterogeneity of capture probability, and model Mh (Otis et al., 1978) was selected as the most appropriate model for estimating population size. The Jolly-Seber model goodness-of-fit test indicated rejction of the model for this data set, and the Mh estimates of population size were all higher than the Jolly-Seber estimates.