Open AccessENM2020: A Free Online Course and Set of Resources on Modeling Species' Niches and Distributions
Author(s) -
A. Townsend Peterson,
Matthew E. AielloLammens,
Giuseppe Amatulli,
Robert P. Anderson,
Marlon E. Cobos,
José Alexandre Felizola DinizFilho,
Luis E. Escobar,
Xiao Feng,
Janet Franklin,
Luiz Gadelha,
Damien Georges,
Maya Guéguen,
Tomer Gueta,
Kate Ingenloff,
Scott Jarvie,
Laura Jiménez,
Dirk Nikolaus Karger,
Jamie M. Kass,
Michael Kearney,
Rafael Loyola,
Fernando MachadoStredel,
Enrique MartínezMeyer,
Cory Merow,
Maria Luiza Mondelli,
Sara Ribeiro Mortara,
Robert Muscarella,
Christopher W. Myers,
Babak Naimi,
Daniel Noesgaard,
Ian Ondo,
Luis OsorioOlvera,
Hannah L. Owens,
Richard G. Pearson,
Gonzalo E. PinillaBuitrago,
Andrea SánchezTapia,
Erin E. Saupe,
Wilfried Thuiller,
Sara Varela,
Dan L. Warren,
John Wieczorek,
Katherine P. Yates,
Gengping Zhu,
Gabriela Zuquim,
Damaris Zurell
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
biodiversity informatics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1546-9735
DOI - 10.17161/bi.v17i.15016
Subject(s) - viewpoints , computer science , course (navigation) , license , field (mathematics) , set (abstract data type) , modular design , data science , ecology , environmental niche modelling , key (lock) , ecological niche , world wide web , biology , engineering , art , mathematics , computer security , pure mathematics , visual arts , programming language , operating system , habitat , aerospace engineering
The field of distributional ecology has seen considerable recent attention, particularly surrounding the theory, protocols, and tools for Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) or Species Distribution Modeling (SDM). Such analyses have grown steadily over the past two decades—including a maturation of relevant theory and key concepts—but methodological consensus has yet to be reached. In response, and following an online course taught in Spanish in 2018, we designed a comprehensive English-language course covering much of the underlying theory and methods currently applied in this broad field. Here, we summarize that course, ENM2020, and provide links by which resources produced for it can be accessed into the future. ENM2020 lasted 43 weeks, with presentations from 52 instructors, who engaged with >2500 participants globally through >14,000 hours of viewing and >90,000 views of instructional video and question-and-answer sessions. Each major topic was introduced by an “Overview” talk, followed by more detailed lectures on subtopics. The hierarchical and modular format of the course permits updates, corrections, or alternative viewpoints, and generally facilitates revision and reuse, including the use of only the Overview lectures for introductory courses. All course materials are free and openly accessible (CC-BY license) to ensure these resources remain available to all interested in distributional ecology.