Statistics course: Analysis of Stable Isotope data using SIA-R 
This course will be held at SCENE (Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment), Glasgow, United Kingdom from July 27th – 30th 2015

This course will cover the concepts, technical background and use of stable isotope mixing models (SIMMs) with a particular focus on running them in R. Recently SIMMs have become a very popular tool for quantifying food webs and thus the diet of predators and prey in an ecosystem. 
Course content is as follows;

Day 1: Basic concepts
Module 1: Introduction; why use a SIMM? 
Module 2: An introduction to Bayesian Statistics. 
Module 3: Differences between regression models and SIMMs. 
Practical: Revision on using R to load data, create plots and fit statistical models.
Round table discussion: understanding the output from a Bayesian model

Day 2: Understanding and using SIAR
Module 4: Do's and Don’ts of using SIAR
Module 5: The statistical model behind SIAR
Practical: Using SIAR for real-world data sets; reporting output; creating richer summaries and plots of the results
Round table discussion: Issues when using simple SIMMs

Day 3: SIBER and MixSIAR
Module 6: Creating and understanding Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses (SIBER)
Module 7: What are the differences between SIAR and MixSIAR?
Practical: Using MixSIAR on real world data sets; benefits over SIAR
Round table discussion: When to use which type of SIMM

Day 4: Advanced SIMMs
Module 8: Using MixSIAR for complex data sets: time series and mixed effects models
Module 9: Source grouping: when and how?
Module 10: Building your own SIMM with JAGS
Practical: Running advanced SIMMs with JAGS
Round table discussion: Bring your own data set

Cost is £450 for the 4 days including lunches and refreshments or £625 for an all-inclusive option which includes the addition of accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments.

There is also the possibility to have discussions regarding your own research so you are encouraged to bring your own data with you.

For further details or questions or to register please email [log in to unmask] or visit www.prstatistics.co.uk 

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Additional upcoming courses; AN INTRODUCTION TO USING GIS IN ECOLOGICAL FIELD STUDIES; APPLIED BAYESIAN MODELLING FOR ECOLOGISTS AND EPIDEMIOLOGISTS; SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF ECOLOGICAL DATA USING R; ADVANCING IN R;