Statistical analysis of deer and elk pellet-group data

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3808358· OSTI ID:6484201

White, G C; Eberhardt, L E

Several authors have demonstrated empirically the fit of observed pellet-group data from mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk to the negative binomial distribution. This distribution is described by 2 parameters: the mean, m, and the positive exponent, k. The parameter k is a measure of contagion. As over-dispersion increases, k ..-->.. 0; conversely, as the pellet groups approach a random distribution, k ..-->.. infinity. Past application of the negative binomial distribution to pellet-group data required a common value for the parameter k in order to test for differences in mean number of pellet groups for different populations. We developed a method of testing for differences in the means of pellet-group data for 2 or more populations that does not require a common k value. Interval and point estimators of k and m were obtained by the method of maximum likelihood for a series of models where either m or k can be assumed constant for all populations. A set of FORTRAN subroutines is available to analyze negative binomial data.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM
• OSTI ID: 6484201
• Journal Information: J. Wildl. Manage.; (United States), Vol. 44:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DEER
POPULATION DENSITY
POPULATIONS
CALCULATION METHODS
DATA ANALYSIS
ECOLOGY
FECES
FORTRAN
FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT
HABITAT
POPULATION DYNAMICS
RANDOMNESS
STATISTICS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICS
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
RUMINANTS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
550100* - Behavioral Biology
510100 - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989)