1 Introduction

Biology, including ecology and conservation, is becoming increasingly quantitative. Familiarity with a range of statistical tools (frequentist, multivariate, Bayesian) is expected. Many researchers draw on quantitative methods; whether it is process or mathematical modelling, programming, bioinformatics, or bioeconomic analyses. We will only touch on key concepts in quantitative methods; in-depth training would require multiple full-semester courses.

In the process of increasing quantitative skills across the Biology curriculum, we have prepared an online guide for using R, that is designed for new users, and as a reference document for all Biology students. You can access it here. In this three-week module, we will carry out a few exercise that mimics some of the quantitative skills that you need to be a successful conservation biologist. These include:

  1. Data management (with an introduction to the dplyr package)
  2. Plotting data effectively (with an introduction to the ggplot2 package)
  3. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis (with an introduction to the vegan package)