Introduction to
Statistical Paleobiology
Instructor: Lee Hsiang Liow
Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University
of Oslo
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Course Generalities
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What this course is not
(How to ask) the questions we ask in paleobiology
Why we need numbers and what kinds of numbers are useful
Why we need models and how to make models
Some Aims
– Refresh memory on useful bits of probability and statistics
– Learn how to make useful models and useful inference
– Get (more) familiar with a programming language.
R (why?)
– Get a feel of the broader
paleobiological/macroevolutionary literature
– Learn to be critical of the published literature as so to be
able to improve on inferences
The “Work” Involved
• Most lectures will have short exercises done/started in class
• Most lectures readings before/after the lecture
• Most lectures will have extra material that should help in the
future
Assignment(s) feeding into a larger project!
You *should* spend most of the next 2-3 weeks on this
course if you really want to get something out of it (only listening
to me blah blah isn’t enough)
Timeline
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Introduction (4 Sep Helsinki), Assignment 1, Step 1
Lecture 1 (9 Sep Oslo), single taxon extinction, Assignment 2
Lecture 2 (11 Sep Oslo), group extinction rates,
Lecture 3 (16 Sep Oslo), phenotypic evolution (single lineage)
Assignment 1 Step 2
• Lecture 4 (18 Sep Oslo) , ???
• (turn in draft of Assignment 1 and 2 before 1 Oct)
• Concluding lecture (2 Oct Helsinki), Discussions (papers
assigned)
Evaluation
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Communication
Assignment 1
• Aim: write a researched summary article on your choice of a
paleobiological subject as a wikipedia article (that should not
already exist as a wiki page). You might ultimately like to
publish this!
• Suggest topics by 6 September (email me)
• E.g. of topics – conservation paleobiology, coordinated stasis
• Length: about 3 pages double spaced, excluding figures and
references.
• First Draft sent to me by 15 September (12CET)
• Commenting on others (Assignment 1 Step 2) Exchange on
16th September