How should Data be analysed?

So, you've completed a broad-scale survey of a national park, you have a big pile of datasheets, what now? You have to make sense of it all!

Which is the habitat with the most species?
Which habitats are the most similar?

To answer these questions, you must store the data in a digital format, condense and analyse the data, and perform statistical tests that relate to your objectives.

For some people this is the most daunting and neglected aspect of a survey. They enjoy being out in the field catching lots of weird looking critters, but when it comes to deciding which statistical technique to apply to a particular set of data, they just throw up their hands and want to run away.

This section is designed to inform students of ways to analyse data collected during a flora and fauna survey. It is not expected for students to master all the techniques presented. It is highly recommended that students undertake SBI504 Experimental Design and Analysis Unit to obtain more experience in the foundations and applications of many of these statistical techniques.

There are two major questions to be explored here:

What initial considerations are important?
What types of statistical analysis are available?