R without fear: an R course in Evolutionary Ecology 2016

Introduction to the R working environment

Variable types in R

Statistical populations and samples through working examples

Measurements of central tendency and variability

Precision, accuracy and bias

Hypothesis testing: Falsability, Type-I and II errors and statistical power

Correlation and simple regression

P-value vs. effect magnitude

Linear Models: residuals, assumptions and interpretation.

Explained vs. unexplained variance of a model (the coefficient of determination).

Building functions in R

Introduction to graphics in R

The concept of partial effect: partial regression and correlation

General Linear Models (GLM)

Curve fitting in linear models and General Additive Models (GAMs)

The problem of spatial autocorrelation in ecology and evolution

pts: checking and plotting interactions

Introduction to General and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM)

Fixed vs. Random effects and implications for analysis: main R functions

Introduction to Bayesian statistics: the function MCMCglmm

Practical examples in evolutionary ecology:

The study of natural selection

Applications of linear models for quantitative genetics

Student’s case studies

Students fees.

Free for 1st year PhD students in the Doctoral program in Biology (FCUL), Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV UL; UP) and Biology and Ecology of Global Changes (BEAG UL, UA) when the course counts credits for their formation, in which case the delivery of a final report done after the course is mandatory; 25 € for PhD students from institutions of the PEERS network (cE3c, CFE); 125 € for FCUL Master students and unemployed; 180 € for BTI, BI and other PhD students; 250 € for Professional and postdocs.

When the maximum number of students is reached 12 vacancies will be available for non-paying 1st year PhD students mentioned above, being, by order of preference: 1) cE3c students; 2) BIODIV students (not from cE3c); 3) FCUL students (not from cE3c); 4) BEAG students (not from FCUL).