![Kish, William [Biol]](http://blogs.longwood.edu/williamkish/files/2019/10/cropped-Buffalo-creek.jpg)
Personally, I would not consider general math as my strong suit, but I would say that statistics is one of my stronger skills. This comes in handy with my biology courses since the only way to analyze data and to be able to draw conclusions is from statistical analysis. Some of the courses and projects that involved statistical analysis and modeling were during my 2019 CURIO project, my 2018 PRISM project, and my BIOL 251 Ecology and Evolution course project. In these projects, I learned how to understand, analyze, and make conclusions from my data by using mathematical reasoning.
In my Ecology and Evolution course, we performed a class project where we individually analyzed data and drew conclusions. During this project, we went to the local cemetery and gather demographic data which included gender and age. With the data collected, we individually performed our own statistical analysis. Using excel, we created survivorship curves where we also calculated standard deviations, p-values, survival rates, and life expectancy. With the data I collected and analyzed, I was able to make conclusions about survivorship and compare the life expectancies about different years. This was the first project where I was required to use analyzed data to make conclusions.
During my 2018 PRISM project, I examined the seasonal vernal pool communities in High Bridge Trail State Park (HBTSP). I also looked at how the physico-chemical parameters affected the seasonal vernal pool communities. To find if there was any relationships with the physico-chemical parameters and the vernal pool communities, we used simple linear regressions to find any significant relationships. To examine any differences between and among the different vernal pools, we used two-way ANOVAs followed by a Tukey Post Hoc test. This project was the first project were I did the statistical analysis by myself and was where I started becoming confident in my statistical skills.
During my 2019 CURIO project with Dr. Henkanaththegedara, we examined the seasonal spider diversity of spiders along an urbanization gradient as well as how different environmental conditions affect the diversity. I used R statistical software to analyze the data I collected from the fall of 2018 and the spring of 2019. I used simple linear regressions to find any relationships between environmental conditions and the diversity. Next, I used two-way ANOVAs to find any differences of diversity between habitat type and season. By examining the p-values and the r-squared values of my statistical tests, I was able to draw conclusions about what season and habitat type was statistically different and what relationship was the strong. This project helped me solidify the statistical tests that I have been using for a while, but now on data that I personally collected.
The skills acquired through statistical analysis are very important for my future careers. I was able to grow through learning the many techniques used in analyzing data and expand my thought process on how to approach a scientific study. I learned how to properly apply statistics and math to scientific research and how to create statistical models for analysis.
Below is mt BIOL 251 demography paper.
Below is my 2018 PRISM project.
Below is my CURIO powerpoint where I present on the seasonal spider diversity and how an urbanization gradient impacted the diversity.