Lack of quantitative training among early-career ecologists: a survey of the problem and potential solutions

Proficiency in mathematics and statistics is essential to modern ecological science, yet few studies have assessed the level of quantitative training received by ecologists. To do so, we conducted an online survey. The 937 respondents were mostly early-career scientists who studied biology as undergraduates. We found a clear self-perceived lack of quantitative training: 75% were not satisfied with their understanding of mathematical models; 75% felt that the level of mathematics was “too low” in their ecology classes; 90% wanted more mathematics classes for ecologists; and 95% more statistics classes. Respondents thought that 30% of classes in ecology-related degrees should be focused on quantitative disciplines, which is likely higher than for most existing programs. The main suggestion to improve quantitative training was to relate theoretical and statistical modeling to applied ecological problems. Improving quantitative training will require dedicated, quantitative classes for ecology-related degrees that contain good mathematical and statistical practice.

[1]  M. Nowak,et al.  Evolution: Selection for positive illusions , 2011, Nature.

[2]  J. Tebbs,et al.  An Introduction to Categorical Data Analysis , 2008 .

[3]  M. Conroy,et al.  Analysis and Management of Animal Populations , 2002 .

[4]  R Core Team,et al.  R: A language and environment for statistical computing. , 2014 .

[5]  Mary Lee S. Ledbetter,et al.  Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action Presentation to Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience, July 2011 , 2012, Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience.

[6]  A. Agresti.  An introduction to categorical data analysis , 1997 .

[7]  Kenneth H. Pollock,et al.  Rigorous science: suggestions on how to raise the bar , 2003 .

[8]  F. Jordán.  Keystone species and food webs , 2009, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

[9]  M. Henry,et al.  A Primer of Ecology with R , 2009 .

[10]  Aaron M. Ellison,et al.  A Primer of Ecological Statistics , 2004 .

[11]  Edward A. Codling,et al.  Mathematical and theoretical ecology: linking models with ecological processes , 2012, Interface Focus.

[12]  D. Haydon.  Models for Ecological Data: An Introduction , 2008 .

[13]  P. Pevzner,et al.  Computing Has Changed Biology—Biology Education Must Catch Up , 2009, Science.

[14]  E. C. Pielou,et al.  An introduction to mathematical ecology , 1970 .

[15]  Andrew D Higginson,et al.  Heavy use of equations impedes communication among biologists , 2012, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[16]  Jason Matthiopoulos.  How to be a Quantitative Ecologist: The 'A to R' of Green Mathematics and Statistics , 2011 .

[17]  Jennifer A. Dunne,et al.  The Network Structure of Food Webs , 2005 .

[18]  Brian Dennis,et al.  Paths to statistical fluency for ecologists , 2010 .

[19]  F. Guilhaumon,et al.  How can quantitative ecology be attractive to young scientists? Balancing computer/desk work with fieldwork , 2013 .

[20]  R. Punnett,et al.  The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection , 1930, Nature.

[21]  S. Hubbell,et al.  The unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography at age ten. , 2011, Trends in ecology & evolution.

[22]  M. Levandowsky,et al.  Modeling Nature: Episodes in the History of Population Ecology , 1985 .

[23]  G. Norman.  Likert scales, levels of measurement and the “laws” of statistics , 2010, Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice.

[24]  A. J. Lotka.  Elements of Physical Biology. , 1925, Nature.

[25]  N Thompson Hobbs,et al.  Introducing data-model assimilation to students of ecology. , 2011, Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America.

[26]  O. Ovaskainen,et al.  State-space models of individual animal movement. , 2008, Trends in ecology & evolution.

[27]  Troy Day,et al.  A Biologist's Guide to Mathematical Modeling in Ecology and Evolution , 2007 .

[28]  James S. Clark,et al.  Models for Ecological Data: An Introduction , 2007 .

[29]  W. Bialek,et al.  Introductory Science and Mathematics Education for 21st-Century Biologists , 2004, Science.

[30]  M. Pascual,et al.  Ecological networks : Linking structure to dynamics in food webs , 2006 .

[31]  Vito Volterra,et al.  Leçons sur la théorie mathématique de la lutte pour la vie , 1931 .

[32]  Benjamin M. Bolker,et al.  Ecological Models and Data in R , 2008 .

[33]  Stephen Petschulat.  Other people's data , 2010, CACM.

[34]  James D. Nichols,et al.  Analysis and Management of Animal Populations: Modeling, Estimation and Decision Making , 2002 .

[35]  R. A. Fisher,et al.  The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection , 1931 .

[36]  A. J. Lotka,et al.  Elements of Physical Biology. , 1925, Nature.

[37]  R. Hilborn,et al.  The Ecological Detective: Confronting Models with Data , 1997 .

[38]  Denis Valle,et al.  Computer Programming Skills for Environmental Sciences , 2012 .

[39]  Karline Soetaert.  A Primer of Ecology with R , 2010 .

[40]  P. Holgate,et al.  Matrix Population Models. , 1990 .

[41]  M. Palmer,et al.  Quantitative Bioscience for the 21st Century , 2005 .