BIOEE 4610

Ecological and Evolutionary Statistics

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

This course develops quantitative and programming skills essential for designing, analyzing, and communicating ecological and evolutionary research. Emphasis is placed on sampling design, hypothesis formulation, statistical inference, and data analysis as an integrated process rather than separate steps. Students will learn to translate biological questions into testable predictions, evaluate them with data, and interpret results critically. Instruction focuses on conceptual understanding and informed choice of methods, preparing students for independent learning of advanced techniques. Data analysis is conducted in R. Case studies draw from contemporary ecological and evolutionary research. The course is tailored for students pursuing an Honors thesis, and the in-class project allows students to analyze data directly related to their Honors research. Grades are based on written assignments, final projects, and in-class participation.

Prerequisites STSCI 2150, STSCI 2200 or equivalent Introductory Statistics course.

Distribution Requirements (DLS-AG)

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Design experiments or observational studies in ecology and/or evolution, with special consideration to the statistical tools that represent them.
• Identify the necessary resources to learn about a particular statistical method and implement it in R.
• Select the most appropriate method of analysis for a given study design and data.
• Critique the statistical analyses in articles and studies they read.
• Describe the methodology behind a statistical analysis in a reproducible manner.
• Interpret the results data analysis and generate reports of those results.

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