Ecosystems worldwide are under stress. Recent global and local assessments of biodiversity have reported deterioration of ecosystems and species loss, leading to potentially irreversible changes from baseline conditions. In the face of the challenges presented by multiple degrading processes, measuring and monitoring ecosystems is as important as ever. Ecosystem change may be manifest in an array of ecosystem attributes expressed as changes in number or size, or presence of species, functions, or services within an ecosystem. Despite the array of changes ecosystems may express, ecologists call upon the same broad concepts when designing and implementing approaches to quantitatively assess change and difference. This course aims to introduce the concepts at the core of measurement and monitoring for detection of ecosystem change.

The course aims to build on quantitative modelling skills using approaches that underpin the bulk of ecological studies. The intent is to provide the next step (after pre-requisite introductory courses) for students in building competence in widely applicable field-survey, data-handling and statistical methods. The ultimate aims are to provide an essential quantitative skill set for future researchers, managers, consultants, analysts, and policy-makers alike.

The dizzying array of attributes that may change in ecosystems means that this course cannot meaningfully cover a substantial number if ecosystems, attributes, or processes. The intensive timeline of the course, and uncertain public-health landscape, means we cannot travel to remote sites. The course focusses on local case studies that offer the opportunity to explore the use of data experimental sites as well as native ecosystems. While these case studies may seem, at times, distant from the idealised landscapes ecologists work in, they embody the basic question types that ecologists seek to answer when monitoring ecosystems in an approachable setting. They also support integration of lecture, workshop and reading material. Individual sessions will focus on specific examples of measurement and the impact of instrument selection and use; experimental design and implicit consequences; common and advanced analysis techniques.

Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.