Practical Introduction to Species Distribution Models

Species Distribution Modelling course organized by the Research School for Ecology, Biodiversity and the Environment, University of Stockholm.

Instructor: Blas M. Benito.

Session 1

Introduction to Species Distribution Models (SDMs)
What is a model?
The geographic distribution of species
Ecological niches
Species Distribution Models
The modelling workflow
- Theoretical formulation
- Presence records
- Environmental predictors
- Viability analysis of the input data
- Modelling algorithms
- Parameters
- Evaluation
- Model post-processing and analysis
- Interpretation of results
Applications of SDMs
Limitations of SDMs
Getting started!
- Required tools (computer programs)
- Preparing presence records
- Getting environmental predictors ready

Session 2

Calibrating SDMs with different algorithms: theory and practice
- GLM
- GAM
- Classification and regression trees
- Artificial Neural Networks
- Random Forest
- Maxent
Evaluating SDMs
Projection of SDMs over space and time

Session 3

Practical workshop
- Workshop dynamics
- Study cases
- Formation of working teams
- Students work on the study cases assisted by the instructor

Session 4

Practical workshop (continued)
- Oral presentation of results by each team and open discussion
Dynamic Species Distribution Models
- Theoretical principles
- Simple example with R
Final discussion