About this course: The course presents an overview of the theory behind biological diversity evolution and dynamics and of methods for diversity calculation and estimation. We will become familiar with the major alpha, beta, and gamma diversity estimation techniques. Understanding how biodiversity evolved and is evolving on Earth and how to correctly use and interpret biodiversity data is important for all students interested in conservation biology and ecology, whether they pursue careers in academia or as policy makers and other professionals (students graduating from our programs do both). Academics need to be able to use the theories and indices correctly, whereas policy makers must be able to understand and interpret the conclusions offered by the academics. The course has the following expectations and results: - covering the theoretical and practical issues involved in biodiversity theory, - conducting surveys and inventories of biodiversity, - analyzing the information gathered, - and applying their analysis to ecological and conservation problems. Needed Learner Background: - basics of Ecology and Calculus - good understanding of English
Who is this class for: The course is for: - lower-intermediate division undergraduate - upper division undergraduate - Professional or Graduate Master and Ph.D. students
Created by: National Research Tomsk State University
Taught by: Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Ecology and Biodiversity
Biological Diversity and Ecology Laboratory, Bio-Clim-Land Centre of Excellence, Biological Institute
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | 6 weeks of study, 1-2 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Welcome to the course "Biological Diversity (Theories, Measures and Data sampling techniques)"
This module represents the course content and its author as well as contains the additional materials to the course
2 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Course promo
- Reading: From the course author
- Reading: About the course team
- Reading: About the International Master's Degree in Biodiversity
- Reading: Cited literature and further readings
- Reading: Entering questionnaire
- Video: About the university
Biodiversity and evolution
In this module we will explore the evolution of biodiversity. In particular we will understand what is the web of life and how species interact to coexist.Moreover, we will understand the main processes that allow the evolution of biodiversity and how it is structured and structures itself. Finally, we will review the distribution patterns of biodiversity in macroscale.
5 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 1.1. The web of life
- Video: 1.2. Species interactions and biodiversity
- Video: 1.3. The evolution of biodiversity
- Video: 1.4. The structure of biodiversity
- Video: 1.5. The distribution of biodiversity in macroscale
- Reading: Suggested readings – Module 1
Graded: Quiz – Module 1
WEEK 2
Importance of biodiversity and anthropogenic impacts
After having analysed the distribution of biodiversity in macroscale in the previous module we will see it in microscale.
Then I will explain you the importance of biodiversity: first we will see what are the effect of anthropogenic impacts, and second we will see why biodiversity is important for us. We will try to answer the important question about what are the causes of biodiversity decline and we will analyse the effect of climate change on species diversity, ecosystems and the whole planet. With a global perspective we will explore the implication for biodiversity of the Gaia theory.
5 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 2.1. The distribution of biodiversity in microscale
- Video: 2.2. Why biodiversity is important for us
- Video: 2.3. What are the causes of biodiversity decline?
- Video: 2.4. Climate change and biodiversity
- Video: 2.5. Gaia and biodiversity
- Reading: Suggested readings – Module 2
Graded: Quiz – Module 2
WEEK 3
Analyse and measure biodiversity
In this module we will move from a theoretical discussion to a more practical point of view and we will see hot to analyse and measure biodiversity. I will show you some sampling techniques and how to avoid the most common sampling errors. We will talk about the relevant problem of pseudoreplication.
Then I will show you some metrics to estimate α and β –diversity and how to use them in particular cases and specific situations.
5 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 3.1. Analyse and measure biodiversity – I part
- Video: 3.2. Analyse and measure biodiversity – II part
- Video: 3.3. Sampling Techniques
- Video: 3.4. α-diversity
- Video: 3.5. β-diversity
- Reading: Suggested readings – Module 3
Graded: Quiz – Module 3
WEEK 4
Species-abundance distributions and comparisons
In this module we will talk about the most common species-abundance distribution models and I will show you how to compare different communities and samples in order to achieve a quantitative and statistical measure of the changes in biological diversity due to treatments.
I will explain some Evenness measures and how to represent them in form of curves of biodiversity. This will help to discriminate communities’ diversity and to better analyse the anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity.
5 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 4.1. Evenness
- Video: 4.2. Species abundance models
- Video: 4.3. Curves of biodiversity
- Video: 4.4. How to compare communities’ diversity
- Video: 4.5. How to analyse the anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity
- Reading: Suggested readings – Module 4
Graded: Quiz – Module 4
WEEK 5
Alternative measures of biodiversity
In this module I will show you some of the most useful alternative measures of biodiversity. We will explore the meaning of functional and taxonomic (phylogenetic) diversity and I will explain you how to use these metrics for a more complete understanding of the patterns governing communities’ diversity. Then I will provide you some sketches about qualitative measures of biodiversity.
3 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 5.1. Functional diversity
- Video: 5.2. Taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity
- Video: 5.3. Qualitative measures of biodiversity
- Reading: Suggested readings – Module 5
Graded: Quiz – Module 5
WEEK 6
Statistics applied to the analysis of biodiversity
The last module (n° 6) of this course will be dedicated to statistics applied to the analysis of biodiversity. We will see how to apply the information gathered in the previous modules to obtain a statistical significance. We will explore parametric and non-parametric tests, the useful chi-square test, the correct application of correlation and the regression analysis, and some hints about the multivariate analysis techniques, such as ANOVA.
7 videos, 2 readings
- Video: 6.1. Statistics applied to biodiversity – I part
- Video: 6.2. Statistics applied to biodiversity – II part
- Video: 6.3. Statistics applied to biodiversity – III part
- Video: 6.4. Statistics applied to biodiversity – IV part
- Video: 6.5. Statistics applied to biodiversity – V part
- Video: 6.6. Statistics applied to biodiversity – VI part
- Video: 6.7. Statistics applied to biodiversity – VII part
- Reading: Suggested readings – Module 6
- Reading: Final questionnaire
Graded: Quiz – Module 6
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National Research Tomsk State University
National Research Tomsk State University is the largest classical university in the Asian part of Russia. For over 135 years TSU has been training the scientific and managerial elite, based on the integration of academic process and fundamental scientific research. It is a renowned center of education, science, innovations and attraction for creative talents, a generator of advanced ideas, and a paragon of adherence to the best traditions of Russian higher education.
There are 23 departments and learning institutes, 1 University branch, Institute of Distance Education, Institute of Innovations in Education operating at TSU, and more than 17,000 students studying at the University, with 135 subject areas and specialties to choose from. TSU offers 136 Master’s programmes in 55 areas of academic studies and counting.
The number of international students is constantly increasing, now with more than 1300 TSU students coming from countries such as the USA, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Italy, Poland, Mongolia, China, Vietnam, Korea, Columbia, Turkey and others.
Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
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Ratings and Reviews
Excellent course
A well organized course from basics of biodiversity to the field requirements; it has covered the necessary methodologies. It was very useful. Special Thanks to Dr. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti of NRTS University; who was the backbone of the course.
Subs are not always understandable.
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AM
this course is pretty thorough as far as data sampling goes. The professor is clearly very well versed in the statistical methods. This course is mainly about statistical methods used in the field of biodiversity, so at the end, you will have to use the formulas mentioned in lectures (without any worked examples), so if you are not comfortable with calculus, it's not for you. The transcripts are helpful but often incomprehensible.