Use of Stable Isotopes & Fatty Acids in Aquatic Ecology: Theory & Practice.
9-14 January 2017
***Download this information in PDF format***Location: Instituto Antofagasta, Campus Coloso, Universidad de Antofagasta (Google Map here)
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Background: Biochemical techniques such as Stable isotope analysis (SIA) and Fatty Acid Analysis (FAA) are increasingly becoming standard tools in many branches of ecology, especially those examining aquatic taxa and ecosystems. These techniques are used to provide information at a range of levels of biological organisation from the organ, individual organisms, population, and species through to the ecosystem/landscape level. They are also used to inform our understanding of global biogeochemical cycles and environmental change. A good understanding of the potential (and limitations) of SIA and FAA is useful for biologists aiming to understand the literature and to develop their own research careers.
Course Description: The course (in English) is targeted at postgraduate students and early career researchers aiming to understand the theoretical background and the practical application of SIA and FAA in aquatic ecology (both marine and freshwater).
With a main focus on stable isotopes, the course will involve the students gaining an understanding of the theoretical background and practical application of SIA and FAA through the use of literature case studies and analysis of real datasets. Focusing on aquatic ecosystems and featuring hands-on data-analysis throughout, the course covers many different areas of ecology including: i) Fundamentals of stable isotope ratios and fatty acids and their analysis; ii) Biogeochemical cycling; iii) Trophic ecology; iv) and isotopes as measures of ecosystem function and environmental change.
The course is divided into four parts: one involving lectures and discussions; a second involving computer-based practical data-analysis sessions; a third involving the students presenting a critical assessment of key stable isotope papers; and finally, a round-table mini-workshop where we examine and discuss isotope and fatty acid data or proposed studies provided by the delegates.
Learning outcomes: To provide an understanding of isotope ecology and the chemical, biochemical and biological foundations of variation in stable isotope ratios and fatty acids. To understand typical and potential applications of SIA and FAA in aquatic ecology. To become experienced in analysis of stable isotope and fatty acid data. To develop statistical and presentation skills and to build professional networks.
Teaching approach: The course includes a mixture of case-study led lectures, computer-based practicals, discussion and a mini-project where students will present a summary and critically evaluation of a key stable isotope ecology paper (supplied). Practical sessions will involve the student undertaking worked examples of different analytical problems, with real-world datasets.
Evaluation: Students will be assessed on the results of each practical session (100 %).
Cost: No fees for course/lunch/coffee breaks. Students have to cover costs of travel and accommodation.
Lunches: Lunches will be between 12:00 - 13:00.
Activities: All activities will be held in the Instituto de Antofagasta, Campus Coloso, Universidad de Antofagasta.
Timetable: Download in PDF format.
Course materials: (password protected)
Applying for the course: Places on the course are limited so preference will be for applicants currently using (or who will be using) stable isotopes and/or fatty acids in their research . Please note application deadline is Friday 25.11.2016.
To apply, please send the following to chris@harrodlab.net:
1. A current academic CV (in English);
2. A letter of support from your academic supervisor;
3. A one page letter of intention detailing why you want to attend the course and how it will help your research. Please include information on your area of research and how you wish to use (or how you have used) stable isotope analysis to fulfil your objectives. In your letter, please let us know if you have any particular dietary requirements for coffee breaks or lunch (e.g. food allergies) or health issues that we should be aware of; and
4. Please include contact details and a recent photo that we can use for the course materials.
Timetable
Date |
AM Activity |
PM Activity |
Sunday 8 January 2017 |
Travel to Antofagasta |
19:00 Welcome and ice breaker (Instituto de Antofagasta) (note change in time!) |
Monday 9 January |
Course starts 9:00 Introduction to course & speakers. Introduction to Journal club –outline of mini-group project 10:30 Lecture 1: Theory of stable isotope analysis
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12:00 - 13:00 Lunch Laboratory practical 1: Sample collection and preparation. Coffee break 15:30 - 16:00
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Tuesday 10 January |
9:00 Lecture 2: Biogeochemical and geographical drivers of isotopic variation 10:30 Lecture 3: Individual drivers of isotopic variation |
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 13:00 Data practical 2: Statistical analysis of isotopic variation between individuals and groups 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee break 16:00 - 18:00 Data Practical 3: Going from isotope data to ecological information 1 (estimating isotopic niche)
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Wednesday 11 January |
9:00 Lecture 4: Using stable isotopes to understand consumer diet and habitat use I 10:30 Lecture 5: Using stable isotopes to understand consumer diet and habitat use II
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12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 13:00 Data Practical 4: Going from isotope data to ecological information 2 (estimating trophic position) 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee break 16:00 - 18:00 Data Practical 5: Simple isotope mixing models |
Thursday 12 January |
9:00 Lecture 6: Theory of fatty acid analysis 10:30 Lecture 7: Using fatty acids to understand consumer diet and habitat use
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12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 13:00 Data Practical 6: Fatty acid data – handling and preparing for analysis 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee break 16:00 - 18:00 Data Practical 7: Multivariate analysis of fatty acid data
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Friday 13 January |
9:00 Lecture 8: Putting it all together – tips (and pitfalls) for writing an isotope ecology paper 10:00 Journal Club: IsoGroup presentations – Groups present their critical reviews of key isotope ecology papers
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12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 13:00 Data Practical 8: More complex isotope mixing models: MixSIAR 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee break 16:00 - 18:00 Data Practical 9: Combined analysis of isotope and fatty acid data
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Saturday 14 January |
9:00 Show us your data: interactive workshop on student isotope & fatty acid data |
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 13:00 Show us your data 2: interactive workshop on student isotope & fatty acid data 15:30 - 16:00 Coffee break 18:00 Course ends! 19:00 Asado (Chilean barbecue) |
Sunday 15 January |
Travel home |
Travel home |
Technical points: Students should bring a laptop computer capable of data manipulation and analysis i.e. with spreadsheet (e.g. Excel) and R installed. It is assumed that those attending the course will be able to manage data sets and understand the theory behind basic statistical analyses (correlation, regression, t-tests, ANOVA and their non-parametric equivalents) and basic graphical outputs (histograms, box-whisker plots, scatterplots).
We will use RStudio, so this should be installed on each laptop (and students should know how to use it). Students will have to give short presentations, so they should also have suitable presentation software installed. We will use a number of R packages (see table below) that should be installed prior to the course. Please also download PAST.
Name |
URL |
Use |
R |
R – base system for data analysis |
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R Studio |
User interface for R |
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SIAR & SIBER |
https://github.com/AndrewLJackson/siar https://github.com/AndrewLJackson/SIBER |
Mixing model |
MixSIAR |
Mixing model |
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tRophicPosition |
Bayesian estimation of consumer trophic position in R |
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ggplot2 |
Graphing package, an add-on to base R |
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Stable Isotope Mixing Polygon Simulation |
Estimating suitability of sources for inclusion in mixing model |
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PAST |
Free (and very easy to use) statistical software for |