Ecological Forecasting in Practice: Building Iterative Workflows for Biodiversity Predictions

Build and evaluate short-term ecological forecasts by repeatedly linking observations, models and predictions. A biodiversity challenge uses shrub, rabbit and dung-beetle data from Doñana with remote-sensing measurements. Participants process time series and satellite indices, compare autoregressive, hierarchical, correlational and mechanistic models, propagate uncertainty and assess forecasts against benchmarks. Reproducible R workflows lead to a submitted forecast and discussion of how predictions support conservation and adaptive management.

Live sessions: 25–29 January, 14:00–18:30 daily, Europe/Madrid (CET, UTC+01:00). Total 27.5 hours: 22.5 live plus five independent.

English-language live online course; Fee €236 until 30 November, then €290; Ambassador rates €188.80/€232. VAT included. Capacity: 25. Basic R and an ecology or environmental-science background are required; forecasting experience is unnecessary. Registration requires acceptance; payment follows confirmation. Recordings are provided, but live attendance is required for a certificate.