Course Description
Concepts and analyses relevant to population assessment and conservation decision making by combining ecological and statistical theories using real-word examples. Topics include linear and nonlinear models, maximum likelihood estimation, model selection, mixed-effects (hierarchical) models, and models as decision-support tools.
Athena Title
QUANT CON SCI
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
A goal of this course is to provide exposure to a variety of quantitative models and their assumptions. Students should be interested in thinking about the quantitative nature of population assessment. We will explore what it means to conduct conservation, confront models with data, and provide meaningful decision support. Students will be encouraged to integrate lectures, readings, discussions, and computer exercises.
Topical Outline
1. Historical context and introduction to models 2. Basic population dynamics 3. Population monitoring 4. Simple linear regression & the Gaussian distribution 5. Surplus production & MSY 6. Growth and recruitment models 7. Probability & likelihood overview 8. More distributions 9. Model selection and multimodel inference 10. Fixed and random effects 11. Variance partitioning 12. Hierarchical modeling 13. Bayesian overview 14. Models and decision making