title: On sampling tick populations: the problem of overdispersion.
abstract: Data collected on both free-living and parasitic tick populations are likely to be overdispersed. The use of means from few replicate samples of overdispersed data as quantitative estimators of tick population density is in turn likely to lead to inaccurate interpretations which may be scientifically misleading. In this paper ways of estimating overdispersion are listed and suggestions for the use of correct statistical tests for handling overdispersed data are given.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, Onderstepoort.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Petney
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Ark
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spickett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D011156:Population Density; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*