Ecological and Environmental Sampling
Bryan ManlyAim of Course:
This course covers sampling methods and analyses used to study of the density and abundance of animals and plants, and other important biological variables. It starts with classic random sampling methods and their extensions (systematic sampling, stratified sampling and more), and goes on to cover methods (such as adaptive sampling, mark recapture, line transects, and more) that have particular applicability to estimating population sizes. The theoretical basis behind methods is discussed, but the emphasis of the course is on understanding how to use methods effectively rather than the derivation of the equations used.Who Should Take This Course:
Environmental scientists, ecologists and other field scientists working with population and density data. Statisticians and biometricians called upon to work on environmental studies, who are not already familiar with the wide variety of specific sampling methods used to estimate populations and densities.For those enrolled in Professional Advancement Programs, this is a required or elective course in the following Programs:
- Statistics for Environmental Science - required
- Engineering Statistics - elective
Course Program:
The course is structured as followsSESSION 1: Standard Survey Sampling Methods
- Simple random sampling for the estimation of population means, totals and proportions
- Stratified sampling
- Systematic sampling
- Ratio estimation, regression estimation, and double sampling to adjust for visibility bias
- Unequal probability sampling
- Thompson's adaptive cluster sampling
- Francis' two phase adaptive stratified sampling
- Two phase adaptive stratified sampling of several animal or plant species at the same time in several geographical locations
- Line transect sampling
- The removal method
- The change in ratio method
- Distance sampling and the T-square method
- Classical closed population methods including the Peterson-Lincoln index and the Otis et al. models
- Recent advances in the analysis of data from closed populations
- The Jolly-Seber method and related approaches
- Analyses for data on the recovery of dead animals
- The use of radio-tagged animals
- The flexible modeling procedures introduced by Lebreton et al
- Recent advances in the analysis of data from open populations
The Instructor:
Bryan Manly is the author of "Statistics for Environmental Science and Management," "The Statistics of Natural Selection on Animal Populations," "Resource Selection by Animals," and many other books and articles. He is a consultant with Western EcoSystem Technology, Inc. in Cheyenne, Wyoming.Organization of the Course:
The course takes place over the internet, at statistics.com. During each course week, you participate at times of your own choosing - there are no set times when you must be online. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board. In class discussions led by the instructor, you can post questions, seek clarification, and interact with your fellow students and the instructor. The course is scheduled to take place over 4 weeks, and typically requires 10-15 hours per week. At the beginning of each week, you receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, you are expected to go over the course materials and work through exercises. Discussion among participants is encouraged. The instructor will provide answers and comments.Certificates and Grades:
You may be interested only in learning the material presented, and not be concerned with grades or certificates. Or you may be enrolled in a statistics.com Professional Advancement Program that requires demonstration of proficiency in the subject, in which case your work will be assessed for purposes of issuing a grade. Or you may require only a "Certificate of Course Completion," along with professional development credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEU's). As you begin the class, you will be asked to specify your category.Credit:
This course offers continuing education units (CEU's). For those successfully completing the course (generally this means marks of 50% or better on the homework), 5.0 CEU's and a certificate will be issued by statistics.com, upon request.Dates:
Feb. 27 - Mar. 27, 2009Click here to be notified of future course offerings.
Participants gain access to the online materials on the first day of the course, and typically spend about 10-15 hours per week (at their convenience). You retain full access to course materials, including discussion board, for two weeks after the course closing date.
Level:
intermediate/introductoryPrerequisite:
The equivalent of Introduction to Statistics I: Inference for a Single Variable, and Introduction to Statistics II: Working with Bivariate Data (and, if necessary before these courses, Introduction to Statistics for Beginners or Survey of Statistics for Beginners).Course Text:
"Introduction to Ecological and Environmental Sampling" by Bryan Manly. This book is in the pre-publication process, and will be provided to course participants in electronic form.Software:
The instructor will recommend a couple of mark-recapture programs for student use. Excel will also be used.Registration:
Register Online - $449Register Online (academic) - $349 (you must be affiliated with a college, university or high school)
Add $50 service fee if you require a prior invoice, or if you need to submit a purchase order or voucher, pay by wire transfer or EFT, or refund and reprocess a prior payment. Please use this printed registration form, for these and other special orders.
Note: Courses may fill up at any time and registrations are processed in the order in which they are received. Your registration will be confirmed for the first available course date, unless you specify otherwise.