Most microbial ecologists understand the importance of rigorous statistical analysis for conducting a replicable study. However, formal courses in the statistical analysis of high-dimensional ecological data are rare, and traditional courses in applied statistics may not teach skills applicable to modern microbiome analysis.

This webinar will introduce foundational concepts in statistics, with a focus on applying these concepts to the analysis of modern microbiome datasets. To illustrate these concepts, we will use the field of "differential abundance" as a case study. We will contrast popular differential abundance parameters and estimators, specifically focusing on estimating meaningful contrasts using high-throughput sequencing data.

You may either watch the entire presentation from the introduction or navigate directly to a specific section by clicking the links provided below:

• Introduction

• Three approaches to analysing data

• Case study: Microbial abundance parameters

• RadEmu and its application

• Examples of statistical tools suitable for different parameters

• Q&A

Who is this course for?

This webinar is suitable for anyone working in microbial ecology. No prior training in statistics is expected, but some familiarity with common tools for data analysis in microbial ecology would be useful.

This event is part of a webinar series that highlights contemporary concepts, methodologies, and valuable resources for examining microbial ecosystems and their influence on the environment and human health. For additional topics within this series and registration information, please visit the following link: Exploring microbial ecosystems.

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Outcomes

By the end of the webinar you will be able to:

• Distinguish a statistical parameter from an estimator
• Identify three challenges in analysing microbial high-throughput sequencing data
• Contrast estimating changes in microbial relative abundances with estimating fold-changes in total abundances

DOI: 10.6019/TOL.stats-ecology-w.2024.00001.1

This webinar took place on 17 April 2024. Please click the 'Watch video' button to view the recording.

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