Oliver Hooker
Managing Partner
Advanced Training for Researchers in the Life Sciences
Path Analysis, Structural Equations, and Causal Inference for Biologists (PSCB04) – Applications for Marine Mammal Research
https://prstats.org/course/path-analysis-structural-equations-and-causal-inference-for-biologists-pscb04/
Delivered by Prof. Bill Shipley, Professor Emeritus at the Université de Sherbrooke, internationally recognised for his pioneering work in causal inference, path analysis, and structural equation modelling in biology. He is the author of the widely used textbook Cause and Correlation in Biology and has published over 170 peer-reviewed papers.
Learn how to use path analysis, structural equation modelling (SEM), and causal inference to investigate complex ecological relationships in marine mammal research.
Marine mammal ecology is shaped by intricate interactions between environmental conditions, prey availability, anthropogenic pressures, behaviour, physiology, and population dynamics. Traditional regression approaches often struggle to disentangle these interconnected relationships. Path analysis and structural equation modelling provide a rigorous framework for testing causal hypotheses, quantifying direct and indirect effects, and evaluating competing ecological models. This course provides comprehensive hands-on training in modern causal modelling using R, with methods that are highly applicable to marine mammal research and conservation.
Marine mammal research frequently involves multiple interacting ecological processes that cannot be adequately captured using simple regression models. Structural equation modelling enables researchers to investigate how oceanographic conditions, prey availability, habitat characteristics, anthropogenic disturbance, physiology, and behaviour interact to influence survival, reproduction, movement, habitat use, and population dynamics through both direct and indirect pathways.
This course equips you with the practical skills needed to construct, evaluate, and interpret causal models using modern R-based workflows. Whether you're studying habitat selection, foraging ecology, behavioural responses to disturbance, the impacts of underwater noise, population health, or conservation interventions, you'll gain the analytical toolkit needed to apply path analysis and structural equation modelling confidently to your own marine mammal research.
PR Stats course page for Path Analysis, Structural Equations, and Causal Inference for Biologists (PSCB04)
Email: oliver@prstats.org