Bias in Estimating Growth Parameters Using Fabens' Mark-Recapture Procedure

Abstract

Simulations of a mark-recapture experiment are used to demonstrate the bias associated with use of a widely accepted equation for-estimating growth rates from data where absolute age is unknown. The bias results in an overestimation of K, the growth rate constant, and an underestimation of 1-, the theoretical maximum size. The bias appears to be associated with a failure to account for the redistribution of the error term when the basic growth equation is transformed to eliminate the necessity of estimating age.