U-CARE: Utilities for performing goodness of fit tests and manipulating CApture-REcapture data

Abstract

In any statistical analysis, assessing the goodness of fit of a model to the data is crucial to avoid drawing incorrect conclusions. U-CARE is a computer application that deals with the mandatory first steps of the analyses of capture-recapture data: the preparation of the data set and the assessment of the fit of a general model (Cormack-Jolly-Seber and variants for single-state data; Jolly-Move and variants for multi-state data). U-CARE implements the current state of the art in goodness-of-fit testing by incorporating components aimed at detecting the most likely departures from assumptions (Pradel et al. 2003, 2005). It is a free and stand-alone application for Windows. © 2009 Ecography.