New insight on survivorship of female chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) from observation of marked animals

Abstract
A population of about 1500 chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) was monitored in the French Alps between 1985 and 1991 by observing individually marked animals. Data on resighting of marked females were analyzed using capture–recapture models. Resighting probabilities were time dependent and survival rates were age dependent. The annual survival rate was low in juveniles (0.58) and high in adults (0.96). Maturing animals (1.5–3.5 years old) had lower survival rates (0.91) than adults. Older age-classes exhibited no significant decline in survival rates. Survival patterns are compared with those from a previous study in New Zealand, and biological and methodological differences between the two studies are discussed.

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