Discovering the Process in the Pattern: Integration and Spatial Analysis of Disparate Ecological Data

This Science and Math Colloquium will feature John Humphreys, postdoctoral researcher at Jordana Experimental Range and Long-Term Ecological Research Station.

Empirical and theoretical research has demonstrated a clear need to quantify the spatial-temporal relationships exhibited among individual organisms and between organisms and environmental gradients, whenever ecological data are analyzed or modeled. While much emphasis has been placed on the statistical ramifications of failing to account for confounding influences like spatial autocorrelation, less attention has been given to the interpretive importance of spatial-temporal analysis in revealing the ecological patterns and processes hidden in structured data.  

Drawing examples from invasive plant species dynamics, rodent evolution and wildlife-to-livestock disease transmission, Humphreys will discuss why the best reason to perform spatial-temporal analysis is not statistical correctness, rather it is to better understand species behavior, space use and interaction.

Faculty and practitioners discuss their current research and field projects in the Science and Mathematics Colloquium Series, held throughout the academic year at ASU’s Polytechnic campus. All seminars are free and open to the public.