Ecological Niche Modelling in R

Ecological niche models (ENM), and/or species distribution models (SDM), are a series of computer algorithms designed to predict the distribution of species in geographic space based on a mathematical representation of their distribution in the environmental space. These state-of-the-art tools are frequently used in different biological disciplines such as ecology, biogeography, evolutionary biology or conservation. This course is aimed to provide, in a R environment: (1) an overview of the theoretical aspects, applications and techniques of ENM, and (2) a series of practical cases exemplifying relevant scientific uses of ENM. 

Requirements: students should have basic experience in R. 

 

Morning

1.0 Overview of the program 

1.1 What is the niche? 

1.2 The Ideal Ecological Niche Model 

1.3 Data sources for species observations and predictor variables 

Afternoon

1.4 Spatial data and common formats 

1.5 Practical - Importing and mapping observations and variables; delimiting the study area.

Morning

2.1 Diversity of algorithms - Presence-absence

2.2 Diversity of algorithms - Presence-only 

2.3 Diversity of algorithms - Presence-background 

Afternoon

2.4. Practice - BIOCLIM 

2.5. Practice – MaxEnt (predicts / maxnet) 

2.6. Practice - GLM 

Morning

3.1 Model evaluation 

3.2 Practice - model evaluation 

Afternoon

3.3 Ensemble forecasting 

3.4. Practice –Multimodelling platform

Morning

4.1 Model comparison – Null hypothesis testing 

4.2 Practice – Niche comparison tests 

Afternoon

4.3 Projection in time (past, future) and space 

4.4 Practice – dissimilarity surfaces 

4.5 Practice – model projection/ biomod 

Students' presentations and evaluations. Other topics and questions.

5 days - 32h (Friday only in the morning) - Schedule: 09:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 17:30

Coordination

Fernando Martínez Freiría | BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO-InBIO

Instructors

Pedro Tarroso | BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO-InBIO

A. Márcia Barbosa | NA

Urtzi Enríquez Urzelai | Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences

The course will be open to a maximum number of 20 participants. 

75% of available student slots are reserved for BIODIV students.

 Priority will be given to:

• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;

• PhD students attending other courses;

• Other post-graduate students and researchers.

(A minimum number of participants is required for the course to take place)

Deadline:  14 October 2024

To apply fill the FORM

A copy of the form will be sent to the email address you provide as proof that you have successfully submitted your application. Results will be emailed to you within 8 working days of the application deadline.

95€ (students) | 200€ (other participants).

BIOPOLIS/ CIBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%. Participation is free of charge for BIODIV Students MBGE 1st year Students & CIBIO's TwinLabs 

(If applicable, payment will be made to Associação BIOPOLIS - VAT No. 516033727. Information on the payment amount and the payment deadline will be sent together with the results notification, and a proforma invoice may be issued in due time).

Registration fees do not include accommodation or meals. 

No ECTS credits are awarded for attending the course. Participants receive a certificate of attendance without quantitative evaluation.