Course content

The course will emphasize the relationship between the test of biological hypotheses and the use of and the statistical tools. The lectures will focus on biological questions related to evolutionary ecology and present rapidly statistical methods commonly used to test them. During the practicum students will analyse already existing data sets related to specific questions. They will also conduct small experiments in the lab or in the field, record data related to a specific hypothesis and analyse these data. Evolutionary topics tackled during this course include, testing adaptive evolution, quantitative genetics, life history evolution, genome evolution, problems of scaling in biology. The main statistical models used during the course are: linear models (regression, ANOVA, ANCOVA), generalized linear models, mixed models, multivariate analysis. During this course the students will use R. A small part of the course will also be dedicated to learn how to write results from statistical analysis for purpose of publication.

Learning outcome

This course will give the student practical and theoretical knowledge about evolutionary questions and the statistical methods used to analyze these questions.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures/seminars: 30 hours; practicals 40 hours mandatory

Compulsory assignments

• seminars

Required previous knowledge

ST0201 or ST1201 and BI2040 or BI2017