Registration Now Open: An Introduction to Species Distribution Modelling
(SDM) In The Marine Environment online course, 13 - 16 September 2021
Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) can be used to predict a species
distribution across a wide area from more limited set of survey data. As
a result, it has become an integral part of many marine mammal
conservation and management strategies. However, implementing an SDM
project in a biological meaningful way is not always as easy as it at
first seems.
_GIS In Ecology_ will be holding a new online training course on Species
Distribution Modelling in the Marine Environment between the 13th and
16th of September 2021. It will be held using the Zoom
video-conferencing platform, and will consist of four three-hour
sessions. One session will need to be completed each day. However, you
will have a choice of completing it between 10:00 and 13:00 UK Time
(primarily for those living in Europe, Asia and Africa) or 18:00 to
21:00 UK Time (primarily for those living in North and South America).
This choice of time slots for each session allows participants from as
wide a range of time zones to participate in the course.
Attendance will be limited to a maximum of 24 people in each session.
The fees for this course are GBP 250 per person (with a discounted rate
of GBP 195 for students, the unwaged and those working for registered
charities). To book a place on it, or for more information, visit the
course's dedicated webpage at
http://gisinecology.com/online-course-an-introduction-to-species-distribution-modelling-in-the-marine-environment/,
Alternatively, you can email i...@gisinecology.com with the subject
line Introductory Online SDM Course September 2021.
This course will be taught by Dr Colin D. MacLeod, the author of _An
Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) Using QGIS and R_
[1] and a renowned expert in using species distribution modelling in the
marine environment. It is aimed at those who want to learn how to
integrate GIS into their species distribution modelling projects. The
course assumes that you have at least a basic knowledge of GIS. If you
wish to learn more about the basics of GIS prior to doing tis course, we
will be running an introductory GIS course between the 6th and 9th of
September 2021. To find out more, please visit
http://gisinecology.com/online-course-an-introduction-to-using-gis-qgis-in-biological-research/.
Each three-hour session will consist of a background talk covering a
specific topic, followed by practical exercises based on instructions
from one of our workbooks. While you are encouraged to remain online
during the practical sessions, you can choose to go off-line as you work
though the exercises (or if you need to take a break). However, if you
have any questions, the course instructor will be available for you to
ask any questions you wish at any point.
Species distribution modelling (also known as habitat modelling,
predictive habitat modelling, ecological niche modelling, habitat
suitability modelling and essential habitat modelling) is becoming
increasingly widely used in marine biology. This course aims to provide
an introduction to the concept and practical application of species
distribution modelling (SDM) in the marine environment, and how to
integrate species distribution modelling with GIS. This includes
selection of environmental variables, the creation of raster data layers
of environmental variables in a GIS-based environment, processing survey
data in GIS, creating spatial visualisations and predictions from SDMs,
and validating the predictive ability of SDMs. The practical sessions
will involve working through a complete SDM project using an existing
data set from start to finish, including creating an SDM using
Generalised Additive Modelling (GAM). This means you do not need have
your own data to attend. The practical sessions will be conducted in
QGIS (our recommended option) or ArcGIS, and R (but no prior experience
with R is required).
When you attend this course you will receive a free copy of _An
Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) Using QGIS And R
(GIS For Biologists Workbooks) _ [1]as the practical exercises in that
course are based on the ones contained in that book.
At the end of the course, all attendees will receive a certificate of
attendance and completion. Each certificate is embossed with the GIS In
Ecology official stamp to prevent its fraudulent reproduction. In
addition, each certificate has its own unique identification number that
we will record, along with your name, meaning that we can verify the
authenticity of the certificates we issue (and the course you have
completed) on request.
To attend this course, you must have your own laptop computer with an
appropriate GIS software package installed on it. Our recommended GIS
software for this course is the freely available QGIS software. For
those wishing to use QGIS, you will need to download and install QGIS
2.8.3 (for those using Windows computers) or 2.8.4 (for those using
Macs) rather than the latest version. The best way to download the
correct version of QGIS for this course is to use the links on our GIS
For Biologists webpage, which can be found here [2].
In addition, you will also need to have spreadsheet software, such as
Excel, on your computer. Finally, you will also need a working copy of
the free statistical software package called R. This can be downloaded
from here.
==================================================================================
GIS IN ECOLOGY - Providing Training, Advice And Consultancy On The Use
Of GIS In Ecology
Web: www.GISinEcology.com [3] Email: i...@gisinecology.com
Need to ask a question about using GIS? Try the GIS In Ecology Forum:
www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm [4]
Books From GIS In Ecology Staff:
GIS For Biologists: A Practical Introduction For Undergraduates; RRP:
£24.99
An Introduction To Integrating QGIS And R For Spatial Analysis; RRP:
£19.99
An Introduction To Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) Using QGIS And
R; RRP: £19:99
If you wish to purchase these books, visit:
http://www.gisinecology.com/book-shop/
To help the environment, please do not print out this email unless it is
unavoidable.
==================================================================================
Links:
------
[1]
http://gisinecology.com/an-introduction-to-species-distribution-modelling-sdm-using-qgis-and-r-gis-for-biologists-workbooks-series/
[2] http://gisinecology.com/gis-for-biologists/
[3] http://www.GISinEcology.com
[4] http://www.GISinEcology.com/GIS_in_Ecology_forum.htm
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