Multivariate methods for ecologists

The Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences invites PhD students to attend the course:

Multivariate methods for ecologists

 Aims:

The course aims to illustrate the application of number of multivariate methods on ecological data, as well as factors that should be considered in study design. Following the course, participants should be familiar with different multivariate techniques, and how they can be applied on various types of data. The course will focus on developing an understanding of the application of multivariate techniques, with only a minimum amount of effort placed on comprehending the underlying mathematical detail.

Contents:

A number of ordination and classification procedures will be demonstrated, such as table arrangement, cluster analysis, correspondence analysis (CA), canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), redundancy analysis (RDA), principle components analysis (PCA), partial least square-analysis (PLS) and more.

Time:

The course is given in two parts: The first part involves lectures and supervised computer exercises, and the second involves supervised individual work with own data at your own office. Course participants may register for either the first or both parts of the course.

Part 1: 4-8 March 2013 (at Ultuna campus)

Part 2: 11-22 March 2013 (at your own office except 22/3)

Attendants:

The course is in the first place open for PhD students. We cannot accept undergraduate students. Post-doc researchers may attend the first part of the course, if there is place.

Application:

See right hand column on this web page.

There are a limited number of places at the course. Attendants will be accepted in the order we receive the applications, i.e. first come, first served!

Location:

The first part of the course will be given at the SLU campus, Uppsala. The second part of the course should be completed at your home department, with frequent contact with the teachers and a compulsory assembly in Uppsala on one of the last days of the course.

Software:

We will mainly use the commercial software CANOCO. A demo version can be requested from MicroComputer Power. We will also demonstrate how the program "R" can be used for selected multivariate methods.

 Computers:

We will do all exercises at a computer lab. You may also bring your own laptop, provided that you have installed (at least) the demo version of CANOCO (see above).

Prerequisites:

Attendants must have basic experience in handling the Microsoft Windows operating system. A basic course in ordnary statistics is recommended.

Teachers:

Ulf Grandin, David Angeler, Martyn Futter, Lars Sonesten

Course secretary:

Elin Lavonen (Elin.Lavonen@slu.se), 018-67 31 38

Credits:

Swedish PhD students will receive 1.5 ECTS credits for the first (lecture) part and 4.5 ECTS credits for completing the whole course.

Lodging:

Participants from other cities than Uppsala are encouraged to arrange their lodging as soon as possible, as there are few inexpensive lodging alternatives in Uppsala. We recommend the youth hostel Sunnersta herrgård, which is relatively cheap and within walking distance from the SLU campus. Note that Sunnersta herrgård is both a hostel and a more expensive hotel.

For more information contact:

Ulf Grandin (course content etc.); tel. 018-673104, e-mail: ulf.grandin@slu.se

or

Elin Lavonen (application, practical matters, etc.); tel. 018-673059, e-mail: Elin.Lavonen@slu.se

Last update: 12 November 2012