Ecological Analysis in R

Biol/EnvSt 331- Online- Summer Session II

Unlock the power of R for analyzing ecological data. Explore the fundamentals of statistical analysis and discover how R can revolutionize ecological studies, equipping you with essential skills for graduate school and enhancing your proficiency in conducting impactful ecological research. Consult with your major advisor to see whether this course fulfills your major's statistics requirement.

Applied, Interdisciplinary.

Professor: Dr. Abigail Tamkin & Dr. Eric Nord

Course Objectives

·        Data Analysis Proficiency: By the end of the course, students will be proficient in using the R programming language to analyze ecological data. They will demonstrate the ability to load datasets, manipulate data, perform basic statistical analyses, and create informative data visualizations.

·        Statistical Understanding: Students will develop a solid understanding of fundamental statistical concepts and techniques used in ecological data analysis. They will be able to calculate and interpret descriptive statistics, conduct hypothesis tests, perform regression analysis, and implement one-way ANOVA.

·        Application to Real Research: Students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real ecological research. They can choose to work on a final project using either provided sample data or data collected from their own research, allowing them to analyze and interpret ecological data in a practical context.

·        Multivariate Analysis: For students interested in more advanced analysis, they will explore multivariate analysis techniques, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This will enable them to gain insights into complex ecological data and visualize relationships among variables.

Expectations for Online Courses

Au Sable online courses are an extension of our traditional campus-based field experiences that have brought over 4,000 students into the Au Sable Community to learn together with exceptional faculty to serve, protect and restore God’s earth.

Key components and expectations for students in these online courses include:

• Short-term but intensive learning with student commitment of approximately 30 hours per week (May, 3-week session) or 20 hours per week (Summer, 5-week sessions) required.

• Primarily asynchronous content with 10-25% of course time devoted to live sessions and discussions with the professor, students, and outside speakers. Live times vary and require some flexibility in student schedules.

• Student attendance and/or contribution to Sunday Vespers (worship) services and components of Integration Days (typically Mondays) in which all students and all courses participate in a shared learning experience.

• Students taking one on-campus course in a Summer Session at the Great Lakes (Michigan) Campus can also enroll in the corresponding Summer Session online course for a total of two courses in the session.

• Planned live sessions and more detailed scheduling will be provided to enrolled students prior to April 15. For students with limited flexibility in their summer work/life schedules, please contact Dr. Heath Garris, Director of College Programs, to further discuss your ability to complete summer online courses: heath.garris@ausable.org or telephone 231-587-8686.