course-details-portlet

BI3051

Quantitative Analyses in Ecology and Evolution

Choose study year
Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

The course presents classical methods of statistical analyses for biological data, focusing on the relationships between the biological questions, the study design, and the statistical models used to analyse the data. Emphasis is also placed on the interpretation and presentation of statistical analyses. The course comprises lectures, exercises, discussions of the scientific literature and an obligatory assignment.

The different statistical models presented in the course are: linear models, generalized linear models (with Poisson, Binomial and negative binomial distribution), and mixed effect models. Analyses are performed with R.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

  • Understand and use statistical models to perform quantitative analyses in biology.
  • Understand how to apply specific statistical models to different experimental designs in biology.
  • Use the statistical software R to perform data analyses and present the results.
  • Interpret results from statistical analyses.
  • Critically evaluate statistical analyses presented in the literature.
  • Design experiments in biology and perform the statistical analyses of the data.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures (ca. 30 hours), exercises (ca. 30 hours). During the exercises, students analyse data from experiments in biology and interpret and present the results of these analyses. Lecture also include discussions of statistical analyses presented in the scientific literature. Examples are primarily based on studies in ecology and evolution, but data from other fields in biology are also used. For the obligatory semester assignment, groups of students analyse data and present orally the research question, the method used, the results, and their interpretation.

Compulsory assignments

  • Term paper with oral presentation

Further on evaluation

Assessment for the course is a written exam (100%).

The written exam can be changed to an oral exam in the semester when the course is not taught.

The mandatory activity consists of group work with an oral presentation of the work. The work must be approved to take the final exam. Once the mandatory activity is approved it remains valid even in case of failure at the final exam.

Course materials

Lecture notes and primary literature provided and discussed during the course

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
BI8051 7.5 sp Autumn 2025
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Ethology
  • Biodiversity
  • Biology
  • Ecology

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Biology

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code D Date 2025-11-24 Time 15:00 Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL311 lyseblå sone
2 candidates
Room SL311 brun sone
1 candidate
Room SL311 grønn sone
4 candidates
Room SL310 lilla sone
7 candidates
Room SL310 blå sone
3 candidates
Room SL415
8 candidates

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code D Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.