Course Title: Introduction to multivariate ordination analysis for community ecology data.

Instructor: Dra. María Vanessa Lencinas (CONICET); mvlencinas@conicet.gov.ar

Key topics: multivariate data, community ecology, principal component analysis, detrended correspondence analysis, non-metrical multidimensional scaling, multi-response permutation procedure.

Date/Time: 22-23 March 2026 (two full days).

Note: The course is designed for 20 students.

Target Audience: students (pre-graduate, post-graduate), professionals, researchers.

Language: according to the Audience (English, Spanish, or both). The presentation will be in English.

Course Summary

The objective of the course is to introduce the participants in the use of multivariate ordination techniques and complementary analyses, presenting the main basic concepts, training in the analyses and interpretation of results, and discussing the potential application to community ecology data, with examples of Patagonia. It includes the capacitation in the use of specific software (software and bibliography will be provided).

Content will divide in four units: (i) Basic concepts in community ecology. Basic concepts for multivariate ordination techniques; (ii) Introduction to PCA, DCA, NMDS. Interpretation of outputs; (iii) Introduction to complementary techniques (MRPP, PERMANOVA, PERMDISP). Interpretation of outputs; (iv) Introduction to correspondence analyses (RDA, CCA). Interpretation of outputs. Methodology: (i) Lectures. (ii) Practice with personal computers. (iii) Database management and analysis. (iv) Plenary discussion. Each unit will be reinforced with discussion of examples and exercitation. Depending on time and interest of participants, they could present their own data and we can discuss about them.

Course Materials: Students will need Laptops to access to the pdf material, run software and develop exercises.