A guide to statistical methods for the analysis of samples of benthic invertebratesThe problems of planning a sampling programme for extensive faunal surveys and intensive quantitative studies are discussed. Methods are given for describing a sample in statistical terms. The spatial dispersion of a population is discussed, and the basic types of spatial distribution are described. Methods are given to test if the dispersion of a population is random, regular or contagious. The problems of estimating numbers per unit area or per unit volume are discussed, and methods are given to calculate confidence limits for these estimates. Both parametric and non-parametric methods for the quantitative comparison of two samples are described, and the uses of x 2 and contingency tables are discussed. A final section briefly discusses the problems of sampling in the field and sub-sampling in the laboratory.

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