Estimation of sex - specific survival with uncertainty in sex assessment

Abstract

In monomorphic species, determination of sex from behavior is prone to errors. The authors develop capture-recapture survival models that account for uncertainty in the assessment of sex. They examine parameter redundancy for four basic models with constant or time-dependent survival and encounter probabilities. They further develop a more refined and more appropriate model for an Audouin's gull data set where four distinct behavioral clues have been used. They examine how useful it is to incorporate the least reliable of the clues and the genetic determination of sex available for only a handful of individuals. They finally discuss the implications of their findings for the design of field studies.