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NIMBioS Tutorial: Applications of Spatial Data
Ecological Niche Modeling
Topic: Applications of Spatial Data: Ecological Niche Modeling
Meeting dates: December 3-5, 2018
Location: NIMBioS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Organizers:
Mona Papeş, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Spatial Analysis Lab at NIMBioS, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
Greg Wiggins, NIMBioS Education & Outreach Coordinator
Objectives: The distribution of a species may be influenced by an array of factors. The set of conditions that allow a species to exist in a geographic area is a representation of the species ecological niche. However, defining these conditions is difficult, due to the complexity of natural systems. One approach to characterizing the ecological niche uses spatial data, GIS software, and modeling algorithms. The objectives of this tutorial were to teach participants the concepts of ecological niche modeling, introduce them to select analytical techniques (formatting GIS data; running maximum entropy – MaxEnt – models) and present how to interpret and apply spatial analyses. Participants were familiarized with several commonly-used and newly-available online spatial data resources. Instructors provided datasets to use in hands-on simulations, but participants could also bring their own data if desired. Applications of ecological niche modeling covered in this tutorial included biogeography, conservation biology, disease ecology, macroecology, and invasion biology.
This tutorial was a repeat of the NIMBioS tutorial offered May 16-18, 2018.
Intended audience. This tutorial was intended for advanced graduate students, postdocs, and faculty interested in learning how to incorporate ecological niche modeling into their research. In order to qualify for this tutorial, participants needed a basic knowledge of GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS or R packages). Little to no programming was involved, with ecological niche modeling and spatial analysis conducted using existing applications (MaxEnt) and packages in ArcGIS and R.
Instructors
- Mona Papeş, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Spatial Analysis Lab at NIMBioS, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Town Peterson, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
- Xiao Feng, Institute of the Environment, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Luis Escobar, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech
Summary Report. TBA
Applications of Spatial Data WordPress site
The Tutorial was streamed live. A playlist of recorded presentations will be posted here when available.
A goal of NIMBioS is to enhance the cadre of researchers capable of interdisciplinary efforts across mathematics and biology. As part of this goal, NIMBioS is committed to promoting diversity in all its activities. Diversity is considered in all its aspects, social and scientific, including gender, ethnicity, scientific field, career stage, geography and type of home institution. Questions regarding diversity issues should be directed to diversity@nimbios.org. You can read more about our Diversity Plan on our NIMBioS Policies web page. The NIMBioS building is fully handicapped accessible.
NIMBioS
1122 Volunteer Blvd., Suite 106
University of Tennessee
Knoxville,
TN 37996-3410
PH: (865) 974-9334
FAX: (865) 974-9461
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