Data in the Wild – serie

This is a book about how ecologists can integrate remote sensing and GIS in their daily work. It will allow ecologists to get started with the application of remote sensing and to understand its potential and limitations. Using practical examples, the book covers all necessary steps from planning field campaigns to deriving ecologically relevant information through remote sensing and modelling of species distributions.All practical examples in this book rely on OpenSource software and freely available data sets. Quantum GIS (QGIS) is introduced for basic GIS data handling, and in-depth spatial analytics and statistics are conducted with the software packages R and GRASS.Readers will learn how to apply remote sensing within ecological research projects, how to approach spatial data sampling and how to interpret remote sensing derived products. The authors discuss a wide range of statistical analyses with regard to satellite data as well as specialised topics such as time-series analysis. Extended scripts on how to create professional looking maps and graphics are also provided.This book is a valuable resource for students and scientists in the fields of conservation and ecology interested in learning how to get started in applying remote sensing in ecological research and conservation planning.

This is a book about how ecologists can integrate remote sensing and GIS in their daily work. It will allow ecologists to get started with the application of remote sensing and to understand its potential and limitations. Using practical examples, the book covers all necessary steps from planning field campaigns to deriving ecologically relevant information through remote sensing and modelling of species distributions.All practical examples in this book rely on OpenSource software and freely available data sets. Quantum GIS (QGIS) is introduced for basic GIS data handling, and in-depth spatial analytics and statistics are conducted with the software packages R and GRASS.Readers will learn how to apply remote sensing within ecological research projects, how to approach spatial data sampling and how to interpret remote sensing derived products. The authors discuss a wide range of statistical analyses with regard to satellite data as well as specialised topics such as time-series analysis. Extended scripts on how to create professional looking maps and graphics are also provided.This book is a valuable resource for students and scientists in the fields of conservation and ecology interested in learning how to get started in applying remote sensing in ecological research and conservation planning.

Camera trapping is a powerful and now widely used tool in scientific research on wildlife ecology and management. It provides a unique opportunity for collecting knowledge, investigating the presence of animals, or recording and studying behaviour. Its visual nature makes it easy to successfully convey findings to a wide audience.This book provides a much-needed guide to the sound use of camera trapping for the most common ecological applications to wildlife research. Each phase involved in the use of camera trapping is covered:- Selecting the right camera type - Set-up and field deployment of your camera trap - Defining the sampling design: presence/absence, species inventory, abundance; occupancy at species level; capture-mark-recapture for density estimation; behavioural studies; community-level analysis - Data storage, management and analysis for your research topic, with illustrative examples for using R and Excel - Using camera trapping for monitoring, conservation and public engagement.Each chapter in this edited volume is essential reading for students, scientists, ecologists, educators and professionals involved in wildlife research or management.

Camera trapping is a powerful and now widely used tool in scientific research on wildlife ecology and management. It provides a unique opportunity for collecting knowledge, investigating the presence of animals, or recording and studying behaviour. Its visual nature makes it easy to successfully convey findings to a wide audience.This book provides a much-needed guide to the sound use of camera trapping for the most common ecological applications to wildlife research. Each phase involved in the use of camera trapping is covered:- Selecting the right camera type - Set-up and field deployment of your camera trap - Defining the sampling design: presence/absence, species inventory, abundance; occupancy at species level; capture-mark-recapture for density estimation; behavioural studies; community-level analysis - Data storage, management and analysis for your research topic, with illustrative examples for using R and Excel - Using camera trapping for monitoring, conservation and public engagement.Each chapter in this edited volume is essential reading for students, scientists, ecologists, educators and professionals involved in wildlife research or management.

CCTV for Wildlife Monitoring is a handbook on the use of CCTV in nature watching, conservation and ecological research. CCTV offers a unique ability to monitor wildlife in real time, stream video to the web, capture imagery of fast-moving species or cold animals such as wet otters or fish and maintain monitoring over long periods of time in a diverse array of habitats. Wildlife watchers can take advantage of a huge range of CCTV cameras, recording devices and accessories developed for use in non-wildlife applications. CCTV allows intimate study of animal behaviour not possible with other technologies.With expert experience in engineering, photography and wildlife, Susan Young describes CCTV equipment and techniques, giving readers the confidence to tackle what initially may seem technically challenging. The book enables the reader to navigate the technical aspects of recording: basic analogue, high definition HD-TVI and IP cameras, portable CCTV, digital video recorders (DVR) and video processing by focusing on practical applications. No prior knowledge of CCTV is required – step-by-step information is provided to get anyone started recording wildlife.In-depth methods for recording foxes, badger, deer, otters, small mammals and fish are also included, and the book makes comparisons with trail cameras where appropriate. Examples of recorded footage illustrate the book along with detailed diagrams on camera set-ups and links to accompanying videos on YouTube. Case-studies show real projects, both the equipment used and the results.This book will be of interest to amateur naturalists wishing to have a window into the private world of wildlife, ecological consultants monitoring protected species and research scientists studying animal behaviour.

CCTV for Wildlife Monitoring is a handbook on the use of CCTV in nature watching, conservation and ecological research. CCTV offers a unique ability to monitor wildlife in real time, stream video to the web, capture imagery of fast-moving species or cold animals such as wet otters or fish and maintain monitoring over long periods of time in a diverse array of habitats. Wildlife watchers can take advantage of a huge range of CCTV cameras, recording devices and accessories developed for use in non-wildlife applications. CCTV allows intimate study of animal behaviour not possible with other technologies.With expert experience in engineering, photography and wildlife, Susan Young describes CCTV equipment and techniques, giving readers the confidence to tackle what initially may seem technically challenging. The book enables the reader to navigate the technical aspects of recording: basic analogue, high definition HD-TVI and IP cameras, portable CCTV, digital video recorders (DVR) and video processing by focusing on practical applications. No prior knowledge of CCTV is required – step-by-step information is provided to get anyone started recording wildlife.In-depth methods for recording foxes, badger, deer, otters, small mammals and fish are also included, and the book makes comparisons with trail cameras where appropriate. Examples of recorded footage illustrate the book along with detailed diagrams on camera set-ups and links to accompanying videos on YouTube. Case-studies show real projects, both the equipment used and the results.This book will be of interest to amateur naturalists wishing to have a window into the private world of wildlife, ecological consultants monitoring protected species and research scientists studying animal behaviour.

This is a book about the scientific process and how you apply it to data in ecology. You will learn how to plan for data collection, how to assemble data, how to analyze data and finally how to present the results. The book uses Microsoft Excel and the powerful Open Source R program to carry out data handling as well as producing graphs.Statistical approaches covered include: data exploration; tests for difference – t-test and U-test; correlation – Spearman’s rank test and Pearson product-moment; association including Chi-squared tests and goodness of fit; multivariate testing using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal–Wallis test; and multiple regression.Key skills taught in this book include: how to plan ecological projects; how to record and assemble your data; how to use R and Excel for data analysis and graphs; how to carry out a wide range of statistical analyses including analysis of variance and regression; how to create professional looking graphs; and how to present your results.New in this edition: a completely revised chapter on graphics including graph types and their uses, Excel Chart Tools, R graphics commands and producing different chart types in Excel and in R; an expanded range of support material online, including; example data, exercises and additional notes & explanations; a new chapter on basic community statistics, biodiversity and similarity; chapter summaries and end-of-chapter exercises.Praise for the first edition:This book is a superb way in for all those looking at how to design investigations and collect data to support their findings. – Sue Townsend, Biodiversity Learning Manager, Field Studies Council[M]akes it easy for the reader to synthesise R and Excel and there is extra help and sample data available on the free companion webpage if needed. I recommended this text to the university library as well as to colleagues at my student workshops on R. Although I initially bought this book when I wanted to discover R I actually also learned new techniques for data manipulation and management in Excel – Mark Edwards, EcoBloggingA must for anyone getting to grips with data analysis using R and excel. – Amazon 5-star reviewIt has been very easy to follow and will be perfect for anyone. – Amazon 5-star reviewA solid introduction to working with Excel and R. The writing is clear and informative, the book provides plenty of examples and figures so that each string of code in R or step in Excel is understood by the reader. – Goodreads, 4-star review

This is a book about the scientific process and how you apply it to data in ecology. You will learn how to plan for data collection, how to assemble data, how to analyze data and finally how to present the results. The book uses Microsoft Excel and the powerful Open Source R program to carry out data handling as well as producing graphs.Statistical approaches covered include: data exploration; tests for difference – t-test and U-test; correlation – Spearman’s rank test and Pearson product-moment; association including Chi-squared tests and goodness of fit; multivariate testing using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal–Wallis test; and multiple regression.Key skills taught in this book include: how to plan ecological projects; how to record and assemble your data; how to use R and Excel for data analysis and graphs; how to carry out a wide range of statistical analyses including analysis of variance and regression; how to create professional looking graphs; and how to present your results.New in this edition: a completely revised chapter on graphics including graph types and their uses, Excel Chart Tools, R graphics commands and producing different chart types in Excel and in R; an expanded range of support material online, including; example data, exercises and additional notes & explanations; a new chapter on basic community statistics, biodiversity and similarity; chapter summaries and end-of-chapter exercises.Praise for the first edition:This book is a superb way in for all those looking at how to design investigations and collect data to support their findings. – Sue Townsend, Biodiversity Learning Manager, Field Studies Council[M]akes it easy for the reader to synthesise R and Excel and there is extra help and sample data available on the free companion webpage if needed. I recommended this text to the university library as well as to colleagues at my student workshops on R. Although I initially bought this book when I wanted to discover R I actually also learned new techniques for data manipulation and management in Excel – Mark Edwards, EcoBloggingA must for anyone getting to grips with data analysis using R and excel. – Amazon 5-star reviewIt has been very easy to follow and will be perfect for anyone. – Amazon 5-star reviewA solid introduction to working with Excel and R. The writing is clear and informative, the book provides plenty of examples and figures so that each string of code in R or step in Excel is understood by the reader. – Goodreads, 4-star review

This is a book about how ecologists can integrate remote sensing and GIS in their research. It will allow readers to get started with the application of remote sensing and to understand its potential and limitations. Using practical examples, the book covers all necessary steps from planning field campaigns to deriving ecologically relevant information through remote sensing and modelling of species distributions.An Introduction to Spatial Data Analysis introduces spatial data handling using the open source software Quantum GIS (QGIS). In addition, readers will be guided through their first steps in the R programming language. The authors explain the fundamentals of spatial data handling and analysis, empowering the reader to turn data acquired in the field into actual spatial data. Readers will learn to process and analyse spatial data of different types and interpret the data and results. After finishing this book, readers will be able to address questions such as “What is the distance to the border of the protected area?”, “Which points are located close to a road?”, “Which fraction of land cover types exist in my study area?” using different software and techniques.This book is for novice spatial data users and does not assume any prior knowledge of spatial data itself or practical experience working with such data sets. Readers will likely include student and professional ecologists, geographers and any environmental scientists or practitioners who need to collect, visualize and analyse spatial data.The software used is the widely applied open source scientific programs QGIS and R. All scripts and data sets used in the book will be provided online at book.ecosens.org.This book covers specific methods including:what to consider before collecting in situ datahow to work with spatial data collected in situthe difference between raster and vector datahow to acquire further vector and raster datahow to create relevant environmental informationhow to combine and analyse in situ and remote sensing datahow to create useful maps for field work and presentationshow to use QGIS and R for spatial analysishow to develop analysis scripts

This is a book about how ecologists can integrate remote sensing and GIS in their research. It will allow readers to get started with the application of remote sensing and to understand its potential and limitations. Using practical examples, the book covers all necessary steps from planning field campaigns to deriving ecologically relevant information through remote sensing and modelling of species distributions.An Introduction to Spatial Data Analysis introduces spatial data handling using the open source software Quantum GIS (QGIS). In addition, readers will be guided through their first steps in the R programming language. The authors explain the fundamentals of spatial data handling and analysis, empowering the reader to turn data acquired in the field into actual spatial data. Readers will learn to process and analyse spatial data of different types and interpret the data and results. After finishing this book, readers will be able to address questions such as “What is the distance to the border of the protected area?”, “Which points are located close to a road?”, “Which fraction of land cover types exist in my study area?” using different software and techniques.This book is for novice spatial data users and does not assume any prior knowledge of spatial data itself or practical experience working with such data sets. Readers will likely include student and professional ecologists, geographers and any environmental scientists or practitioners who need to collect, visualize and analyse spatial data.The software used is the widely applied open source scientific programs QGIS and R. All scripts and data sets used in the book will be provided online at book.ecosens.org.This book covers specific methods including:what to consider before collecting in situ datahow to work with spatial data collected in situthe difference between raster and vector datahow to acquire further vector and raster datahow to create relevant environmental informationhow to combine and analyse in situ and remote sensing datahow to create useful maps for field work and presentationshow to use QGIS and R for spatial analysishow to develop analysis scripts

Measuring the abundance of individuals and the diversity of species are core components of most ecological research projects and conservation monitoring. This book brings together in one place, for the first time, the methods used to estimate the abundance of individuals in nature.The statistical basis of each method is detailed along with practical considerations for survey design and data collection. Methods are illustrated using data ranging from Alaskan shrubs to Yellowstone grizzly bears, not forgetting Costa Rican ants and Prince Edward Island lobsters. Where necessary, example code for use with the open source software R is supplied. When appropriate, reference is made to other widely used programs.After opening with a brief synopsis of relevant statistical methods, the first section deals with the abundance of stationary items such as trees, shrubs, coral, etc. Following a discussion of the use of quadrats and transects in the contexts of forestry sampling and the assessment of plant cover, there are chapters addressing line-intercept sampling, the use of nearest-neighbour distances, and variable sized plots.The second section deals with individuals that move, such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, etc. Approaches discussed include double-observer sampling, removal sampling, capture-recapture methods and distance sampling.The final section deals with the measurement of species richness; species diversity; species-abundance distributions; and other aspects of diversity such as evenness, similarity, turnover and rarity.This is an essential reference for anyone involved in advanced undergraduate or postgraduate ecological research and teaching, or those planning and carrying out data analysis as part of conservation survey and monitoring programmes.

Measuring the abundance of individuals and the diversity of species are core components of most ecological research projects and conservation monitoring. This book brings together in one place, for the first time, the methods used to estimate the abundance of individuals in nature.The statistical basis of each method is detailed along with practical considerations for survey design and data collection. Methods are illustrated using data ranging from Alaskan shrubs to Yellowstone grizzly bears, not forgetting Costa Rican ants and Prince Edward Island lobsters. Where necessary, example code for use with the open source software R is supplied. When appropriate, reference is made to other widely used programs.After opening with a brief synopsis of relevant statistical methods, the first section deals with the abundance of stationary items such as trees, shrubs, coral, etc. Following a discussion of the use of quadrats and transects in the contexts of forestry sampling and the assessment of plant cover, there are chapters addressing line-intercept sampling, the use of nearest-neighbour distances, and variable sized plots.The second section deals with individuals that move, such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, etc. Approaches discussed include double-observer sampling, removal sampling, capture-recapture methods and distance sampling.The final section deals with the measurement of species richness; species diversity; species-abundance distributions; and other aspects of diversity such as evenness, similarity, turnover and rarity.This is an essential reference for anyone involved in advanced undergraduate or postgraduate ecological research and teaching, or those planning and carrying out data analysis as part of conservation survey and monitoring programmes.

This book teaches the basic stages of mapping for ecological projects. It uses QGIS, an open source system, as this is the most accessible platform to produce maps for reports. The book guides the beginner mapmaker through production of maps for the day-to-day projects of ecologists working in consultancy. If you don’t know where to start or how to use QGIS, this is the practical guide for you. There is no jargon, just everything you require to create the desired maps and to extract from them all the information that you’ll need for reporting.You will learn how to create several different sorts of maps frequently employed in ecological reports: - basic survey map - aerial imagery survey map - designated sites map - desk-study map - protected species map - habitats mapAs a part of this you will also discover how to download third-party maps and datasets, create your own data, geo-reference images and import GPX files into QGIS. Weblinks allow access to downloadable data for use in producing the maps described. The book also includes workflows that you can emulate for your own projects, ensuring that it will remain a helpful tool long after you have completed all the exercises.Ideal for those working in ecological consultancy and conservation, as well as students with an understanding of ecology and surveying but no background or training in QGIS, this handy book will also be a great help to those needing to refresh their GIS skills and/or looking for workflows to follow.

This book teaches the basic stages of mapping for ecological projects. It uses QGIS, an open source system, as this is the most accessible platform to produce maps for reports. The book guides the beginner mapmaker through production of maps for the day-to-day projects of ecologists working in consultancy. If you don’t know where to start or how to use QGIS, this is the practical guide for you. There is no jargon, just everything you require to create the desired maps and to extract from them all the information that you’ll need for reporting.You will learn how to create several different sorts of maps frequently employed in ecological reports: - basic survey map - aerial imagery survey map - designated sites map - desk-study map - protected species map - habitats mapAs a part of this you will also discover how to download third-party maps and datasets, create your own data, geo-reference images and import GPX files into QGIS. Weblinks allow access to downloadable data for use in producing the maps described. The book also includes workflows that you can emulate for your own projects, ensuring that it will remain a helpful tool long after you have completed all the exercises.Ideal for those working in ecological consultancy and conservation, as well as students with an understanding of ecology and surveying but no background or training in QGIS, this handy book will also be a great help to those needing to refresh their GIS skills and/or looking for workflows to follow.

Thermal imaging is exciting technology that can act as a powerful tool in a growing number of wildlife research, ecology and management applications. It allows us to see things difficult or even impossible to detect using conventional methods, opening a window onto the worlds of cryptic, nocturnal, secretive and otherwise challenging species. This can offer a range of benefits such as increased accuracy, reduced costs, better efficiency and improvements to health and safety conditions. Yet the relevant information is often largely inaccessible to most wildlife professionals.Thermal Imaging for Wildlife Applications brings together key findings from academic research and applied field protocols, along with the author’s wealth of practical experience, to inform and guide the reader in an approachable and understandable format. This comprehensive handbook includes chapters covering the fundamentals of the technology, methods, equipment and detailed discussion of application types, as well as specific sections that focus on terrestrial mammals, bats, marine mammals and birds.The final chapter explores some of the many potential future uses of thermal imaging, before a thorough literature overview and a list of resources ensure that this will be the standard work on the subject for years to come.

Thermal imaging is exciting technology that can act as a powerful tool in a growing number of wildlife research, ecology and management applications. It allows us to see things difficult or even impossible to detect using conventional methods, opening a window onto the worlds of cryptic, nocturnal, secretive and otherwise challenging species. This can offer a range of benefits such as increased accuracy, reduced costs, better efficiency and improvements to health and safety conditions. Yet the relevant information is often largely inaccessible to most wildlife professionals.Thermal Imaging for Wildlife Applications brings together key findings from academic research and applied field protocols, along with the author’s wealth of practical experience, to inform and guide the reader in an approachable and understandable format. This comprehensive handbook includes chapters covering the fundamentals of the technology, methods, equipment and detailed discussion of application types, as well as specific sections that focus on terrestrial mammals, bats, marine mammals and birds.The final chapter explores some of the many potential future uses of thermal imaging, before a thorough literature overview and a list of resources ensure that this will be the standard work on the subject for years to come.

Only a small proportion of our most interesting wildlife is observed by naturalists. This book describes how, with the use of well-developed and reliable technology, animals can be filmed in a non-intrusive way without disturbing behaviour. Step-by-step, clearly illustrated details lead the reader past technical challenges and allow many new insights.From bats to badgers, from hedgehogs to deer, whether by night or in the daytime, remote cameras adapted from security systems provide an ideal way to record and monitor behaviour over long periods. At a time when much of our wildlife is fast disappearing from the landscape, the need for more knowledge is especially important. Divided into sections covering different approaches and species groups, this guide offers a variety of unique and valuable tools to aid greater understanding. It will be helpful for anyone who wants to harness the power of technology to increase their understanding of wildlife, from the professional ecologist to the amateur field naturalist or keen wildlife gardener.

Only a small proportion of our most interesting wildlife is observed by naturalists. This book describes how, with the use of well-developed and reliable technology, animals can be filmed in a non-intrusive way without disturbing behaviour. Step-by-step, clearly illustrated details lead the reader past technical challenges and allow many new insights.From bats to badgers, from hedgehogs to deer, whether by night or in the daytime, remote cameras adapted from security systems provide an ideal way to record and monitor behaviour over long periods. At a time when much of our wildlife is fast disappearing from the landscape, the need for more knowledge is especially important. Divided into sections covering different approaches and species groups, this guide offers a variety of unique and valuable tools to aid greater understanding. It will be helpful for anyone who wants to harness the power of technology to increase their understanding of wildlife, from the professional ecologist to the amateur field naturalist or keen wildlife gardener.

Biological recording is the discipline of writing down natural history observations of a correctly identified species, in a specific location, on a specific date, by a named individual. Simple enough, you may think. But these four pieces of data each have their own pitfalls for the unwary, whether making records or using them in analysis.This is the first time that all of the principles and processes of biological recording have been brought together, with a detailed look at some fascinating historical examples. What is biological recording, why do we do it, how did it start, and why does it underpin just about every evidence-based decision that is made in conservation? The book covers:- The art of recording – in-depth, practical information from site-specific work and different habitats to handling absence data, bias and error. - Planning – including relevant legislation and monitoring. - Context – databases, collections, rarities, refereeing/validation. - Analysis – working with lists and indicator species. - Reporting – how-to, the community, ownership and confidentiality.Controversial topics such as species reintroductions are discussed, tips are offered on how to make the most effective use of data, and readers are invited to carry out thought experiments on aspects of their own recording activities as well as considering the future of this all-important discipline.The Biological Recording Handbook provides comprehensive guidance for anyone making wildlife records, whether amateur recorder, ecological consultant or conservation biology academic.

Biological recording is the discipline of writing down natural history observations of a correctly identified species, in a specific location, on a specific date, by a named individual. Simple enough, you may think. But these four pieces of data each have their own pitfalls for the unwary, whether making records or using them in analysis.This is the first time that all of the principles and processes of biological recording have been brought together, with a detailed look at some fascinating historical examples. What is biological recording, why do we do it, how did it start, and why does it underpin just about every evidence-based decision that is made in conservation? The book covers:- The art of recording – in-depth, practical information from site-specific work and different habitats to handling absence data, bias and error. - Planning – including relevant legislation and monitoring. - Context – databases, collections, rarities, refereeing/validation. - Analysis – working with lists and indicator species. - Reporting – how-to, the community, ownership and confidentiality.Controversial topics such as species reintroductions are discussed, tips are offered on how to make the most effective use of data, and readers are invited to carry out thought experiments on aspects of their own recording activities as well as considering the future of this all-important discipline.The Biological Recording Handbook provides comprehensive guidance for anyone making wildlife records, whether amateur recorder, ecological consultant or conservation biology academic.

Birding with AI introduces readers to the increasingly ubiquitous realm of artificial intelligence and its applications in ornithology and wildlife biology. As well as showcasing the potential utility of deep learning in ornithology, the book demonstrates how to understand, design, implement and evaluate AI models for ornithology and related fields.Readers will learn: - The background of AI, specifically deep learning, and how it applies to image interpretation. - How to build deep-learning models for computer vision and how to compile bird image - About the use of pretrained models, especially CLIP, which alone is capable of out-of-the-box bird detection with high accuracy. - Tailoring CLIP-embedding models with small datasets for specific classification tasks. - How to create models that go beyond classification to localization. - How to classify bird audio recordings. - How to use open source tools like Merlin and BirdNet to augment research-question specific models.This ground-breaking volume adopts an approach based on exploring existing birding tools using AI, leading to an overview of artificial intelligence that will help build intuition about how it works. This provides a foundation for the example projects that follow, enhancing the reader’s confidence in their ability to engage and participate in research involving AI. The projects are designed to guide the reader through the model-building process from dataset creation to training, testing and deployment – whether this be for image recognition, classification of calls or other new frontiers birding.

Interactions between species are of fundamental importance to all living systems and the framework we have for studying these interactions is community ecology. This is important to our understanding of the planets biological diversity and how species interactions relate to the functioning of ecosystems at all scales. Species do not live in isolation and the study of community ecology is of practical application in a wide range of conservation issues.The study of ecological community data involves many methods of analysis. In this book you will learn many of the mainstays of community analysis including: diversity, similarity and cluster analysis, ordination and multivariate analyses. This book is for undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers seeking a step-by-step methodology for analysing plant and animal communities using R and Excel.Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet is virtually ubiquitous and familiar to most computer users. It is a robust program that makes an excellent storage and manipulation system for many kinds of data, including community data. The R program is a powerful and flexible analytical system able to conduct a huge variety of analytical methods, which means that the user only has to learn one program to address many research questions. Its other advantage is that it is open source and therefore completely free. Novel analytical methods are being added constantly to the already comprehensive suite of tools available in R.Mark Gardener is both an ecologist and an analyst. He has worked in a range of ecosystems around the world and has been involved in research across a spectrum of community types. His knowledge of R is largely self-taught and this gives him insight into the needs of students learning to use R for complicated analyses.