The course is designed for graduate students interested in learning about, interpreting, and conducting research with spatial ecology components. Practical applications will be taught using R programming language.
This graduate course explores the fundamental principles and applications of spatial ecology. Spatial patterns capture the imagination of biologists; how space directly and indirectly affects biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is implicitly and explicitly recognized. Students will develop both theoretical understanding and practical skills in analyzing spatial ecological patterns and processes. The course combines lectures, peer-reviewed literature discussions, and hands-on R programming exercises to prepare students for real-world applications in ecological research.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Understand fundamental concepts in spatial ecology
Apply spatial statistics and modeling approaches to ecological questions
Critically evaluate spatial ecological literature and methodologies
Develop proficiency in R for spatial analysis and visualization