These workshops are fantastic opportunities for those who do
multivariate analyses (particularly working with ecological community
data). It is a little expensive, but well worth it!
Note that these workshops have very limited seating and tend to sell
out quickly (I missed out on the last one I tried to attend because I
was too slow!)
Drew
Training workshop on
Analysis of Multivariate Data from Ecology and Environmental Science,
using PRIMER v6
San Francisco Bay NERR, Romberg Tiburon Center, CA, 22-26 September 2008
Course
● This five day workshop will cover the statistical analysis of
assemblage data (species by samples matrices of abundance, area cover
etc) and/or multi-variable environmental data which arise in a wide
range of applications in environmental science and ecology, from
environmental impact assessments, through fundamental community
ecology studies and monitoring of widescale biodiversity change, to
biomarker studies and purely physical or chemical analyses
● Based on the PRIMER package (Plymouth Routines In Multivariate
Ecological Research), a worldwide standard software tool used in over
3000 recent SCI-listed papers, for analysis of assemblages of marine
benthic flora/fauna, fish, corals, plankton, algae etc, and,
increasingly, terrestrial, freshwater, palaeontological, microbial &
genetic data
● Covers the core topics of similarity, clustering (CLUSTER),
ordination by non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) and principal
components analysis (PCA), hypothesis testing on similarity matrices
(ANOSIM) and other permutation tests (RELATE), linking biotic patterns
to environmental variables (BEST/Bio-Env), identifying species
responsible for observed community pattern (SIMPER, BEST/BvStep),
comparison of ordinations (2nd stage MDS), dominance curves and
(bio)diversity indices, including measures based on taxonomic
relatedness of species (TAXDTEST), and practical issues such as
taxonomic identification level, sample design, choice of analysis, etc
● Lectures also cover the newer tools in the current PRIMER version
(v6), e.g. a much wider range of similarity measures including new
dispersion-weighted and taxonomically-based coefficients, new global
permutation tests for: a) groups formed in dendrograms (for a priori
unstructured samples), b) dominance curves and c) optimal biota-
environment relationships (the latter also examined by new non-
parametric ‘linkage trees’). Also new in v6 were SIMPER analyses
for 2-way layouts and abiotic variables, missing data algorithms for
environmental data, improved MDS plots and diagnostics, merging of non-
matching species lists, a wide class of richness estimators,
workspaces which are navigable and saveable, major speed and data
capacity enhancements etc
● The workshop will be given by Dr P J Somerfield (Plymouth Marine
Lab, UK). Paul Somerfield is a senior researcher in community ecology
and quantitative methods at the PML, heading the laboratory's
biodiversity research projects. He has been responsible for some of
the methodology in the current version of PRIMER and has much
experience of using the package creatively in a wide range of
applications (well outside the biodiversity area)
● ‘Hands-on’ lab sessions will use real literature case studies,
analysed with PRIMER. Participants are also encouraged to bring some
of their own data to the course. The emphasis throughout is on
practical application and interpretation, the theoretical aspects
(e.g. the multivariate statistical methods which are the core of the
course) being carefully selected to be those that are simple to
describe and understand. No prior statistical knowledge is assumed
Venue
● The workshop will be held at the Romberg Tiburon Center, San
Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Tiburon CA, from
8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday September 22 to Friday September 26, 2008.
● Lectures and labs will not take place in a computer suite, so
participants are expected to bring their own laptop computers to use
during the lab sessions. Not every participant needs a laptop and you
may prefer to share with a colleague – one machine between two people
is very workable (in fact, gives the benefit of livelier
interactions!). Note that PRIMER is for Windows only (2000, XP or
Vista), though it is operable under Windows emulation on a Mac.
● Participants will need to be responsible for their own arrangements
for accommodation and meals, though the local organiser, Marina Psaros
(Coastal Training Coordinator, SF Bay NERR), can provide information
on booking in local hotels.
Workshop costs
● Course fee: $800 ($550 for full-time students) for a full 5 days.
This includes materials, lunch, coffee/snacks at breaks, but not
breakfast, dinner, or accommodation, and excludes software costs
● Software licence for PRIMER6. The PRIMER v6 software will be used
throughout and, to register, participants must either already have
purchased a licence for this new version or purchase/upgrade at the
time of the course*. The below are discounted licence fees for course
participants (postage will be added if software is required in advance
of the workshop)
Private sector company: $800 new v6 $400 upgrade+ to v6 from v5
Public sector institution: $600 new v6 $300 upgrade+ to v6 from
v5
University staff/student (research use only**): $400 new v6 $200
upgrade+ to v6 from v5
*An exception can only be made for a student who will, in future, only
be using their supervisor’s PC (and their supervisor already has a
registered v6 licence), or they will be using a machine covered by a
v6 teaching licence at their university.
**University use of v6 for contractual work requires an appropriate
public or private sector licence
+ If upgrading, please first check with Cathy ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
that you hold a valid v5 licence
Note: these software prices are for workshop participants only, and
represent at least a 20% discount on the standard prices. If software
is required in advance of the workshop please add $20 for air mail or
$35 by DHL courier.
Contact and registration
● To register, contact the local organiser, Marina Psaros, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
du, tel: (415) 338-3511, who can also e-mail you a provisional
schedule for the workshop and other details. You must register and
payment must be received to secure your place. Places are limited and
allocated on a first come, first served basis.
● Accepted registrants will be sent a payment form, which will need
to be completed and faxed (or posted) to PRIMER-E Ltd in Plymouth, UK,
who will handle all payments. This will cover both course fee and any
necessary purchase of the PRIMER6 software. It will contain payment in
the form of either: a) credit card details (Mastercard or Visa only),
b) a dollar check, or c) verification of bank transfer initiation.
Such payment authorisation will be activated on receipt (unless
specifically agreed otherwise), the payment deadline is August 29,
2008. Later registrants will be accepted if space permits or earlier
accepted registrants have failed to submit payment. Invoices
confirming payment will be issued, and proforma invoices can be e-
mailed earlier, if requested. For all payment/software queries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
