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- Environmental DNA
- DNA metabarcoding and its applications
- Workflow for eDNA metabarcoding
- DADA2 for analysing metabarcoding data
- Taxonomic classification to assess biodiversity
- Advances in biodiversity exploration
- Open data resources for eDNA
- Bringing data to life: Data management and sharing
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Statistical thinking in microbial ecology
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 with Amy D Willis, Associate Professor at University of Washington, recorded on 17 April 2024, introduces foundational concepts in statistics, with a focus on applying these concepts to the analysis of modern microbiome datasets (Willis A, 2024). To illustrate these concepts, the lecture uses the field of “differential abundance” as a case study. It 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 beginning 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
You can now continue to the next section to discover the recent advancements in exploratory methods for assessing biodiversity, with a particular emphasis on multi-omics strategies, advanced technologies, and long-read sequencing.