ONLINE COURSE – Phylogenetic Species Distribution Modelling using R (PSDM01) This course will be delivered live
12 May 2025 - 14 May 2025
Event Date
Monday, May 12th, 2025
Course Format
Pre Recorded
About This Course
In this three-day course, we introduce species distribution models (SDMs) and ways to
incorporate phylogenetic information into single species models using R. We begin by
providing an overview on the use of SDMs as a central tool for ecologists and evolutionary
biologists, review and implement common SDM approaches and introduce hybrid models,
which use the information in functional traits to complement the models. We then justify
the rationale for using phylogenetic information in absence of functional trait data and
show how to incorporate phylogenetic information in SDMs (day 1). We review examples
of practical implementation of PSDMs to both present and future climate scenarios (day 2).
Finally, we overview more advanced approaches of incorporating phylogenies into models
(the Bayesian Phylogenetic Mixed Model) and how to project model results into a spatial
context (day 3).
Intended Audiences
This course is aimed at anyone who wishes to improve/complement their use of Species
Distribution Models using phylogenies.
Course Details
Venue – Delivered remotely
Availability – 20 places
Duration – 3 days
Contact hours – Approx. 18 hours
ECT’s – Equal to 2 ECT’s
Language – English
Teaching Format
The course will be hands-on and workshop based. Throughout each day, there will be some introductory remarks for each new topic, introducing and explaining key concepts.
The course will take place online using Zoom. On each day, the live video broadcasts will
occur between (UK local time) at:
• 8:00am-10:00am
• 11:00pm-13:00pm
• 14:00pm-16:00pm
All sessions will be video recorded and made available to all attendees.
Attendees in different time zones will be able to join into some of these live broadcasts, even if all of them are not convenient times.
By joining any live sessions that are possible, this will allow attendees to benefit Fromm asking questions and having discussions, rather than just watching prerecorded sessions.
All the sessions will be video recorded, and made available immediately on a private video hosting website. Any materials, such as slides, data sets, etc., will be shared with the attendees.
Assumed quantative knowledge
We will assume general familiarity with the very basics of statistics (e.g. summary
statistics, distributions).
Assumed computer background
We will assume general familiarity with R elementary operations (e.g. package sourcing,
data importing and exporting, object indexing) and some familiarity with programming in
R (writing code).
Equipment and software requirements
A laptop computer with a working version of R or RStudio is required. R and RStudio are both available as free and open source software for PCs, Macs, and Linux computers.
Participants should be able to install additional software on their own computer during the course (please make sure you have administration rights to your computer).
A large monitor and a second screen, although not absolutely necessary, could improve the learning experience. Participants are also encouraged to keep their webcam active to increase the interaction with the instructor and other students.
UNSURE ABOUT SUITABLILITY THEN PLEASE ASK oliverhooker@prstatistics.com
PLEASE READ – CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations/refunds are accepted as long as the course materials have not been accessed,.
There is a 20% cancellation fee to cover administration and possible bank fess.
If you need to discuss cancelling please contact oliverhooker@prstatistics.com.
If you are unsure about course suitability, please get in touch by email to find out more oliverhooker@prstatistics.com
COURSE PROGRAMME
Monday 12th
Classes from 8:00 to 16:00
Introduction to species distribution models: rationale, algorithms, validation and applications.
• Working with SDMs. Implementing SDMs in R.
• Hybrid-SDMs or how to incorporate functional information into the models.
• What to do in absence of functional trait data? The rationale for using the latent information in phylogenies instead.
• The phylogenetic predictor.
Tuesday 13th
Classes form 08:00 – 16:00
Putting phylogenies in the geography: how to combine phylogenies with species
distribution models in R.
• Phylogenetic information can improve both present and future predictions of
species distributions.
• Projecting phyloSDMs across space and time in R.
• When and why phylogenies can and can’t improve models.
Wednesday 14th
Classes form 08:00 – 16:00
Phylogenies also improve models for the temporal distribution of species.
- The Bayesian Phylogenetic Mixed Model
- Examples of implementation of PMMs and extrapolating their predictions to the
geography in R.
Course Instructor
Dr. Morales Castilla Ignacio