Global Ecology and Biodiversity

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

Biodiversity contributes to ecosystem functioning and is of fundamental importance for human well-being. Hence, knowledge about the spatial distribution of biodiversity is essential for reporting and managing biodiversity change, and for contributing to the vision that biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used. With this course, we want to contribute to educating a new generation of ecologists who are equipped with quantitative skills to address questions in ecology, biodiversity and conservation science. We particularly focus on two aspects: (1) handling large biodiversity and environmental datasets, and (2) modelling and analyzing spatial distributions patterns. In the first week, lectures will be given to introduce the methodologies, and tutorials in computer practica will provide hands-on material and code for ecological data analysis and visualization using the R programming software and ArcGIS as a Geographic Information System (GIS). In weeks 2-4, the students will work in groups to develop their own research project in global ecology and biodiversity by combining ecological and environmental data for a specific research question, and writing this up as a report similar to a draft manuscript for submission to a journal. Additionally, two oral presentations and a final data repository will have to be provided by each student group.

Study materials

Practical training material

• Will be provided during the course via Canvas

Software

• R software with various packages

• ArcGIS (not compatible with MAC OS)

Other

• Powerpoint presentations and other materials will be provided

Objectives

• Design a research project in global ecology
• Find, handle and aggregate important datasets for exploring environmental conditions, species distributions and biodiversity patterns
• Implement statistical models and analyses (e.g. species distribution models, regressions, spatial analyses)
• Quantify the effect of environmental variables on the spatial distribution of biodiversity
• Download, clean and quality check species occurrence records from GBIF

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Laptop seminar
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
• Supervision/feedback meeting

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Additional requirements for this course:

Absence needs to be communicated to the course coordinator. Attendance during student presentations and during the introduction to the research projects is mandatory. 

Assessment

Research project (40%)
- Quality
- Theoretical knowledge
- Technical Skills
- Independence/initiative
- Original contribution
- Working attitude
- Accuracy
- Cooperation with others

Data repository (10%)
- Completeness
- Consistent structure
- Error free
- Good meta data

Oral presentation (10%)
- Contents
- Clarity of presentation
- Discussion

Written report (40%)
- Context
- Scientific Quality
- Use of literature
- Structure and language
- Lay-out

Inspection of assessed work

Grades, scores for each assessment criteria, and general assessment comments and feedback will be provided on Canvas for each assessment part (Research project, Data repository, Oral presentation and Written report), and/or communicated via Email.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Contact information

Coordinator

• W.D. Kissling

Staff

• dr. J.C. Evans PhD
• S. Shinneman MSc
• dr. C. Barile
• dr. P. Rashidi
• dr. J. Wang