mixed effect models

[msc0235@geo.ed.ac.uk]

Dear all,

I would like to analyse a dataset of parasite abundance - this follows a
negative binomial distribution, and comes in a hierarchical fomat (repeated
parasite samples(10 samples) per habitat type (3 types) per host-abundance
block (4 blocks)). Are mixed effect models possible in this case (given that
it is count data, not really continuous data), or is another method more
advisable?

Thanks a lot!


Helene