Mechanistic Species Distribution Modelling / Ecological Niche Modelling with NicheMapR (MSDM01)
Learn mechanistic species distribution and ecological niche modelling with NicheMapR in R. Hands-on live online course with microclimate modelling.
Duration: 1 Day, 4.5 hours a Day
Next Date: April 7, 2026
Format: Live Online Format
Portugal (GMT+1) local time - All sessions will be recorded and made available to ensure accessibility for attendees across different time zones.
£150Registration Fee
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5.0
from 200+ reviews
- Overview
- Instructors
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Course Description
This course introduces the principles and practical implementation of mechanistic ecological niche models using the R package NicheMapR. Unlike correlative approaches, mechanistic models explicitly represent the physiological and biophysical processes linking organisms with their environment. Participants will learn how microclimate and organismal traits can be combined to estimate environmental constraints on species performance and distributions. Through guided exercises in R, the course provides a hands-on introduction to simulating microclimates and exploring how environmental conditions influence potential species distributions.
What You’ll Learn
- The conceptual foundations of mechanistic ecological niche modelling and how these approaches differ from correlative species distribution models.
- How microclimate and organismal physiology interact to shape species’ ecological niches and environmental limits.
- How to use the R package NicheMapR to simulate microclimate conditions relevant for ecological analyses.
- How to run basic microclimate simulations in R and explore environmental conditions experienced by organisms.
- How to interpret model outputs to investigate environmental constraints on species’ niches and potential distributions.
Course Format
Interactive Learning Format
Each day features a well-balanced combination of lectures and hands-on practical exercises, with dedicated time for discussing participants’ own data, time permitting.
Global Accessibility
All live sessions are recorded and made available on the same day, ensuring accessibility for participants across different time zones.
Collaborative Discussions
Open discussion sessions provide an opportunity for participants to explore specific research questions and engage with instructors and peers.
Comprehensive Course Materials
All code, datasets, and presentation slides used during the course will be shared with participants by the instructor.
Personalized Data Engagement
Participants are encouraged to bring their own data for discussion and practical application during the course.
Post-Course Support
Participants will receive continued support via email for 30 days following the course, along with on-demand access to session recordings for the same period.
Who Should Attend / Intended Audiences
This course is intended for academics and postgraduate students working on ecological spatial data projects, as well as students and researchers in biogeography, spatial ecology, or related disciplines. Participants should have a basic familiarity with R and general ecological concepts. Previous experience with species distribution models is helpful but not required. All modelling and analysis will be performed using R, the free software environment for statistical computing and graphics. Participants will work with the R packages NichMapR.
Equipment and Software requirements
A laptop or desktop computer with a functioning installation of R and RStudio is required. Both R and RStudio are free, open-source programs compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
A working webcam is recommended to support interactive elements of the course. We encourage participants to keep their cameras on during live Zoom sessions to foster a more engaging and collaborative environment.
While not essential, using a large monitor—or ideally a dual-monitor setup—can significantly enhance your learning experience by allowing you to view course materials and work in R simultaneously.
All necessary R packages will be introduced and installed during the workshop. A comprehensive list of required packages will also be shared with participants ahead of the course to allow for optional pre-installation.
Dr. Salvador Arenas-Castro
Salvador is a broad-spectrum ecologist whose work integrates fundamental ecology, macroecology, and biogeography with applied fields such as climate adaptation and land-use management. His interdisciplinary approach also spans agroecology, forestry, spatial ecology, and ecoinformatics. A key feature of his research is the explicit incorporation of spatial processes using spatially explicit modelling, GIS, and remote sensing techniques.
Salvador’s work seeks to bridge ecological theory with real-world applications, often through advanced spatial analysis and modelling tools. He is particularly interested in how large-scale ecological patterns respond to climate and landscape change, and how this understanding can inform more sustainable environmental management.
Education & Career
- Broad-spectrum ecologist with interests in ecology, macroecology, biogeography, and land-use
- Active researcher in agroecology, forestry, and spatial modelling
- Developer of spatially explicit models using GIS and remote sensing
- Research affiliations and academic output available via personal and professional pages
Research Focus
Salvador’s research addresses spatial dynamics of ecological systems, using integrative frameworks to study biodiversity, landscape structure, and environmental change. His work applies spatial modelling to understand and manage ecological complexity across scales.
Current Projects
- Spatial modelling of biodiversity responses to climate and land-use changes
- Applications of remote sensing in agroecology and forestry
- Ecoinformatics and GIS-based analysis of landscape-level ecological processes
Professional Consultancy
Salvador contributes expertise in spatial ecology and modelling to multi-disciplinary projects on sustainable land use and biodiversity management.
Teaching & Skills
- Specialises in GIS, remote sensing, spatial ecology, and modelling techniques
- Experienced in interdisciplinary approaches linking ecological research to practical land management
- Promotes integrative and spatially aware ecological analysis
Links
Session 1 – 02:00:00 – Introduction to Mechanistic Niche Modelling
Overview of ecological niche modelling; Correlative vs mechanistic approaches to species distribution modelling; Conceptual foundations of mechanistic niche models; Introduction to the NicheMapR workflow in R; Demonstration: running a basic microclimate simulation;
Practical exercise: exploring microclimate outputs
Break – 00:30:00
Session 2 – 02:00:00 – Practical Applications with NicheMapR
Interpreting microclimate model outputs; Linking environmental conditions with organismal performance
Practical exercise: exploring environmental constraints on species niches; Interpreting model results and potential distributions; Applications in ecology, biogeography, and climate change research
Discussion and Q&A
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Testimonials
PRStats offers a great lineup of courses on statistical and analytical methods that are super relevant for ecologists and biologists. My lab and I have taken several of their courses—like Bayesian mixing models, time series analysis, and machine/deep learning—and we've found them very informative and directly useful for our work. I often recommend PRStats to my students and colleagues as a great way to brush up on or learn new R-based statistical skills.
Rolando O. Santos
PhD Assistant Professor, Florida International University
Courses attended
SIMM05, IMDL03, ITSA02, GEEE01 and MOVE07
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
When will I receive instructions on how to join?
You’ll receive an email on the Friday before the course begins, with full instructions on how to join via Zoom. Please ensure you have Zoom installed in advance.
Do I need administrator rights on my computer?
I’m attending the course live — will I also get access to the session recordings?
I can’t attend every live session — can I join some sessions live and catch up on others later?
I’m in a different time zone and plan to follow the course via recordings. When will these be available?
I can’t attend live — how can I ask questions?
Will I receive a certificate?
When will I receive instructions on how to join?
You’ll receive an email on the Friday before the course begins, with full instructions on how to join via Zoom. Please ensure you have Zoom installed in advance.
Do I need administrator rights on my computer?
I’m attending the course live — will I also get access to the session recordings?
I can’t attend every live session — can I join some sessions live and catch up on others later?
I’m in a different time zone and plan to follow the course via recordings. When will these be available?
I can’t attend live — how can I ask questions?
Will I receive a certificate?
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