Introduction to Network Ecology

From 27 Feb 2023 until 03 Mar 2023 - BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal (Face-to-face)

All organisms on Earth are connected to each other by ecological interactions, forming a complex web of life, the so-called ‘entangled bank’ coined by Charles Darwin. Network Theory brings concepts and tools that help to understand such complexity and to answer timely questions on ecology and conservation. This course aims to assist students to apply the science of Network Ecology to their research. It combines theoretical and practical classes with learning oriented by personal and group projects.

PROGRAM (32 hours)

Day 01 | February 27, 2023

| 9:45-13:00

Introduction to the course

Theory class 1: History and Graph Theory

| 14:00-17:45

Hands-on class 1: Drawing networks

Theory class 2: Network structure (metrics at the network/community level)

Day 02 | February 28, 2023

| 9:45-13:00
Hands-on class 2: Analyses at the network level
| 14:00-17:45

Theory class 3: Network structure (metrics at the node/species level)

Hands-on class 3: Analyses at the node level

Day 03 | March 01, 2023

| 9:45-13:00
Theory class 4: Biological bases and applicability
| 14:00-17:45
Talk 1: Trophic cascades (invited speaker)

Day 04 | March 02, 2023

| 9:45-13:00
Theory class 5: Metanetworks and species-habitat networks
| 14:00-17:45

Theory class 6: Multilayer networks

Hands-on 4: Preparation of the students' final projects/time for questions

Day 05 | March 03, 2023

| 9:45-13:00
Student projects – presentation and evaluation

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Ana Filipa Palmeirim (Coordinator) | BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO

Carine Emer | Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden/Juruá Institute

Sérgio Timóteo | Centre for Functional Ecology - University of Coimbra

Luís P. da Silva | | BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Basic knowledge on R software (e.g., install packages, run scripts)

Read the suggested literature

Hold a laptop to run the analyses

Install the R software and/or R Studio on your computer

> Site to download R: http://cran.r-project.org

> Site to download RStudio: http://www.rstudio.com

STUDENTS EVALUATION

Students will be evaluated based on an individual, or small groups, presentation on the last day of the course, and on their participation as the audience. This will be carried on as a round-table, in which each student will present the results of the analyses of their own data, or from online databases. Presentations should follow the given structure:

(1) define the problem;

(2) elaborate a question and a hypothesis;

(3) choose which metric (s) and/or network properties are more appropriate to answer your question;

(4) present and discuss the results;

(5) elaborate a conclusion and/or applicability.

Presentation should follow the format of a "Science ou Elevator Pitch”, i.e., about five minutes to sell the message to the public. The format to give the message is free, so students should use their creativity. The audience is expected to be active, asking pertinent questions regarding the use, choice and applicability of the network theory/metrics to answer each students’ question.

Here you can find information about: Online databases/ Online courses and tutorials/ Books that are part of the course literature

SELECTION CRITERIA

The course will be open to a maximum number of 20 participants.

75% of available student slots are reserved for BIODIV students.

Priority will be given to:

• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;

• PhD students attending other courses;

• Other post-graduate students and researchers.

REGISTRATION

95€ (students) | 200€ (other participants). CIBIO-InBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%
Participation is free of charge for MBGE, BIODIV Students & CIBIO's TwinLabs

Registration fees do not include accommodation or meals

Please check the rules that apply to all BIODIV students

Registration deadline extended: January 31, 2023