Ecological Modeling

Catalog description

In ecology, data often do not meet the assumptions of the types of statistical tests frequently taught in introductory statistics courses. The goal of this course is to introduce students to how to make inference about relationships between variables and make predictions based on those relationships. It is designed for students seeking to develop quantitative skills and learn how to analyze real and simulated ecological data. It will explore the assumptions behind frequentist and Bayesian approaches to inference and how to apply what we know about processes that generate ecological data to modeling those data. For undergraduate students, prerequisites are: One of BIOL 351 or BIOL 355, and one of ANTH 200, BIOL 437, CQS 112, DIDA 130, DIDA 325, ECON 366, GEOL 330, MATH 130, MATH 137, MATH 147, MATH 220, MATH 220, PHIL 121, PHIL 122, PSYC 243, or SW 243 (or instructor permission). There are no prerequisites for graduate students. Offered regularly.