Science, Technology and Engineering

School of Life Sciences

Department of Environmental Management & Ecology

Workshop on Multivariate Analysis for Biologists, Ecologists and Environmental Scientists

Multivariate analysis of complex experimental designs using PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER v6

La Trobe University , Albury-Wodonga Campus, Monday 13th December to Friday 17th December.

Presented by:

Professor Marti J. Anderson (Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand)

Course Description:

Biologists, ecologists and environmental scientists are often faced with the need to analyse multivariate data collected from a variety of habitats and systems. Such data may be in the form of counts of abundances or percentage covers of individual species, multiple measures of environmental parameters (such as temperature, depth or salinity), or multiple physiological, genetic, molecular or behavioural variables. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce participants to modern semi- and non-parametric methods for multivariate statistical analysis and interpretation. Participants will learn to apply these methods directly and interpret results, using the computer program PRIMER v6 along with the newly-released add-on package PERMANOVA+ (now seamlessly integrated into the PRIMER Windows environment).

Topics covered during the workshop shall include: properties of multivariate data and resemblance measures, PERMANOVA for complex experimental designs (including interactions, mixed models, unbalanced data, asymmetrical BACI and beyond-BACI designs, types of SS, contrasts and/or one or more covariates), permutation and Monte Carlo methods, tests of dispersion and beta diversity, models liking biota to environmental variables, distance-based RDA, DISTLM, model selection procedures and criteria, PCO and canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP). Special emphasis will be placed on developing a strong conceptual understanding and ability to interpret results within the context of relevant applied biological/ecological/environmental problems and studies.

Course prorgamme

Venue

The workshop will be held in Computer Lab 1, Main Building , La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga Campus, University Drive , Wodonga VIC Australia 3690.

Lectures and labs will take place in a computer suite in which lab PCs will have the PRIMER v6 software with the PERMANOVA+ add-on mounted, but participants are still welcome to bring their own laptop computers to analyse literature data sets and some of their own data, during the lab sessions and breaks.

Several hotels are within a short distance from the University. Comfort Inn Blazing Stump (10 minutes), Belvoir Village Motel (3 minutes), Best Western Stagecoach Motel (3 minutes), Border Gateway Motel (2 minutes) driving time of the venue. Qantas and Regional Express flies into Albury from Sydney and Melbourne daily.

Workshop costs

Course fee: $975 ($725 for full-time students) for a full 5 days (all prices are in AUD$). This includes materials, coffee/snacks at breaks and lunch but not software or other meals and accommodation.

Workshop dinner: $55- meal only (to be confirmed)

Software licence for PRIMER6 and PERMANOVA+. These are offered at special workshop prices for participants (including courier costs) payable in AUD$. Follow this link for detailed information and costs.

Contact and registration

To register and secure a place at this workshop please complete the registration form and fax to Ms Rachel Bahrij on +61 2 60249888.

Registration form

Accepted registrants will be sent a tax invoice for payment. This invoice will cover both course fee and any purchase of the PRIMERv6 or Permanova+ software. Later registrants will be accepted if space permits or earlier accepted registrants have failed to submit payment.

For further information please contact the local organiser , Rachel Bahrij, e-mail: r.bahrij@latrobe.edu.au , phone: +61 2 60249885.

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