Contour maps are widely used to visualize spatial insect counts. A contour map is based on interpolation of counts at georeferenced locations, and it is implicitly assumed that similarity of counts at these locations is negatively correlated with the geographical distance between locations. Hence, contour mapping of insect counts is only meaningful if it has been established that insect counts at sampling locations are spatially auto-correlated. This presentation describes the use of variogram analysis as an analytical tool for testing for spatial auto-correlation, and the suitability of different data sets for contour mapping is discussed.
Species 1: Coleoptera Dermestidae Trogoderma variabile (Warehouse beetle)
Species 2: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth)
Keywords: Interpolation, Contour mapping
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