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New Diagnostic Tools for Capture-Recapture Models

Jeyam, Anita (2017) New Diagnostic Tools for Capture-Recapture Models. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis, University of Kent,. (doi:10.22024/UniKent/01.02.64764) (KAR id:64764)

Abstract

Capture-recapture models have increased in complexity over the last decades and goodness-of-fit assessment is crucial to ensure that considered models provide an adequate fit to the data. In this thesis, my primary emphasis is to develop new diagnostic tools for capture-recapture models in order to target possible reasons of lack-of-fit, which might provide biological insights and point towards better-fitting candidate models.

Starting with the basic Cormack-Jolly-Seber model, I develop a new tool for detecting heterogeneity in capture. I then progress to the more complex multi-state models, for which I propose a test for detecting a mover-stayer structure within the population. Finally, I move on to more general models presenting additional levels of uncertainty: first partial observations and then unobservable states. In the presence of partial observations, part of the observations are assigned to states with certainty whereas others are not. I develop a new test for the underlying state-structure of the partial observations, this test detects that the partial observations are not generated by the observable states defined in the experiment. In the presence of unobservable states, the additional level of uncertainty relates only to the non-captures. I present a procedure to test whether one or two unobservable states need to be defined in order for the model to provide an adequate fit to the data.

Lastly, I explore the use of multi-state models to incorporate individual time-varying covariates, based on a fine discretisation of the covariate space.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD))
Thesis advisor: McCrea, Rachel
Thesis advisor: Pradel, Roger
Thesis advisor: Cole, Diana
DOI/Identification number: 10.22024/UniKent/01.02.64764
Additional information: The author of this thesis has asked that this thesis be made available on an open access basis under the licence displayed. 23/06/21
Uncontrolled keywords: capture-recapture models, goodness-of-fit tests, Cormack-Jolly-Seber, multi-state, heterogeneity, unobservable states, partial observations
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science
SWORD Depositor: System Moodle
Depositing User: System Moodle
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2017 13:10 UTC
Last Modified: 28 Jul 2022 07:31 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/64764 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Jeyam, Anita.

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