QUANTITATIVE ECOLOGY
WMAN 633
Spring 2005 Syllabus
INSTRUCTORS
Bob Whitmore, 312-B Percival Hall, 293-2941 x2491, rwhitmor@wvu.edu
Todd Petty, 310-B Percival Hall, 293-2941 x2417, jtpetty@mail.wvu.edu
Stuart Welsh, 313 Percival Hall, 293-2941 x2419, swelsh@wvu.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
CLASS MEETING SCHEDULE:
Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 - 10:45
Percival 324
CLASS READINGS:
No text required, but readings will be assigned.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will introduce you to several advanced quantitative approaches for the analysis of ecological
data. During the first 8 weeks, you will review the basics of SAS, analyze data with parametric and nonparametric statistics, calculate measures of association, and use cluster analysis and non-metric
multidimensional scaling. Additionally, you will explore multivariate techniques for the analysis of habitat
availability and habitat use (MANOVA, PCA, and DFA), and use multivariate techniques to classify
community types and assess similarity (CCA, Mean Similarity, and ANOSIM). For the remaining weeks,
you will cover information theoretic methods, and estimate abundance and survival from mark-recapture
data. Throughout the course, you will conduct statistical applications in SAS, NTSYS, MARK, and R.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance is not mandatory. However, your instructors expect you to make every effort to attend all
classes. In the event that you must be absent from a class, as a matter of professional courtesy, we expect
you to inform the appropriate instructor before the class meeting time.
POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
All class assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Anytime after that on the due date
will be considered one day late. Late assignments will lose 5% per day. We will accept assignments up to
one week following the due date. Only in extreme emergencies will we accept late assignments without
deducting points (5% per day), so please plan accordingly.
1
GRADING:
Your final grade in the class will come from 2 sources: 1) 6 class assignments (2 from each instructor); and 2) a final
project and presentation. The class assignments will constitute 75% of your grade. The final project and
presentation is worth 25%. See a description of the final project requirements attached.
A
AB+
B
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
BC+
C
C-
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
D+
D
DF
67-69
63-66
60-62
<60
Academic Integrity / Dishonesty: The academic development of students and the overall integrity of the institution
are the primary responsibilities of West Virginia University. Academic dishonesty is condemned at all levels of life,
indicating an inability to meet and face issues and creating an atmosphere of mistrust, disrespect, and insecurity.
Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism; cheating and dishonest practices in connection with examinations, papers,
and projects; and forgery, misrepresentation, and fraud. Procedures and penalties for any type of academic
dishonesty are covered in full in the West Virginia University 2003-2005 Undergraduate Catalog, pages 47-51.
Social Justice Statement: West Virginia University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. The
University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation,
color, or national origin in the administration of any of its educational programs or activities or with respect to
admission and employment. The University neither affiliates knowingly with nor grants recognition to any
individual, group, or organization having policies that discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, veteran
status, religion, sexual orientation, color, or national origin, as defined by the applicable laws and regulations.
Further, faculty, staff, students, and applicants are protected from retaliation for filing complaints or assisting in an
investigation under the University’s Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Plan. Inquiries regarding the
University’s non-discrimination policy may be directed to the Executive Officer for Social Justice, West Virginia
University." (West Virginia University 2003-2005) Undergraduate Catalog, page 14). These social justice policies
will be upheld in this classroom throughout the duration of the semester.
USE YOUR MIX ACCOUNT!
WE WILL ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE THAT IS MADE
THROUGH YOUR MIX ACCOUNT EMAIL.
2
QUANTITATIVE ECOLOGY SCHEDULE
DATE
WEEK
TOPIC
January 11, 13
1
Introduction to the SAS Software Package, accessing internal and external
data sets, interpretation of standard statistical output. Formatting output to
look “nice”. Using Proc Format to create user defined formats. (rw)
January 18, 20
2
Introduction to analysis of similarity and association using binary and
continuous data. Chi-square as a measure of association. Similarity matrices
created using NT-SYS software. (rw)
January 25, 27
3
Visual analysis of similarity matrices using cluster analysis and cophenetic
correlations, Topic for final project due on Jan 30th. (rw)
February 1, 3
4
Use of Multi-dimensional scaling as a tool for analysis of similarity matrices.
(rw)
February 8, 10
5
Attacking Habitat Availability and Use Data with Multivariate Statistics :
MANOVA and PCA. (tp)
February 15, 17
6
Attacking Habitat Availability and Use Data with Multivariate Statistics : PCA
and DFA. (tp)
February 22, 24
7
Attacking Species Composition Data with Multivariate Statistics : CCA. (tp)
March 1, 3
8
Attacking Species Composition Data with Multivariate Statistics : Statistical
Analysis of Similarity. (tp)
March 8, 10
9
Maximum likelihood and parameter estimation. (sw)
March 15, 17
10
SPRING BREAK
March 22, 24
11
Information-theoretic methods. (sw)
March 29, 31
12
Mark-recapture (abundance estimation). (sw)
April 5, 7
13
Mark-recapture (survival estimation). (sw)
April 12, 14
14
Mark-recapture (survival estimation). (sw); Occupancy estimation;
Final projects due in class on April 14
April 19, 21
15
Final project presentations
April 26, 28
16
Final project presentations
May 3, 5
17
Finals Week
3