Numerical Analysis of Biological Data--OCN 5709

Fall Semesters

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-12:15

Instructor: E. A. Irlandi
Office phone: 674-7454
email: irlandi@fit.edu web: http://my.fit.edu/~irlandi
Office: Biological Oceanography Lab--Link Building Room 223
Office hours: By appointment

Required Texts:

• Experiments in Ecology, A.J. Underwood, Cambridge University Press, 1998
• Statistical Tables, 3rd Edition, F.J. Rohlf and R.R. Sokal, W.H. Freeman and Company, 1995

Companion Texts (not required, but HIGHLY recommended):

• Biometry 3rd Edition, R.R. Sokal and F.J. Rohlf, W.H. Freeman and Company, 1995
• Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists, G.P. Quinn and M.J. Keough, Cambridge University Press, 2002

Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to the design and analysis of sampling strategies to describe natural patterns as well as the logical design and interpretation of field and laboratory experiments to better understand the processes that produce patterns in nature. The course emphasizes hypothesis driven experimental ecology/biology using analysis of variance techniques, and introduces the student to computer spread sheets and statistical packages used in data management and analysis. Completion of basic course in statistics recommended.

Grading:

• Problem Sets (approximately 7) 33.3%
• Midterm Exam 33.3%
• Final Exam 33.3%

Course Topics:

• Introduction to Biological Data
• Descriptive Statistics
• Probability Distributions
• Hypothesis Testing-Statistical Tests on Samples
• Comparing Population Means
• Introduction to ANOVA
• Assumptions of ANOVA
• Nested ANOVA
• Factorial Experiments
• Construction of ANOVA Models From General Principles
• Sampling Design and Analysis
• Before/After Control/Impact Studies
• Linear Regression and Correlation
• Analysis of Frequencies
• Non Parametric Analyses