We can design and implement a package for your needs:

Data analysis

Appropriate data presentation and analysis is important for describing trends, determining effects through space and time and quantifying the magnitude of such effects. We specialise in hierarchical and partially hierarchical designs, Before and After Impact (BACI) designs, repeated measures designs, and spatial analysis with accompanying and appropriate univariate and/or multivariate statistical analyses and detailed explanations of results.

As biological data rarely conforms to the assumptions of many traditional statistical techniques, even after appropriate transformations, we often employ Generalised linear modeling with associated link functions to specific distributions to analyse univariate data. Similarly, we use a range of multivariate techniques contained in the statistical package SIMPLER E (Clarke 2001) and additional multivariate analyses developed by Dr. Marti J Anderson (University of Auckland) for multivariate data.

Quantitative surveys:

Whether you or your organisation requires information on single species or communities, intertidal, subtidal, estuarine and/or freshwater habitats and ecosystems, we can design and implement an appropriate sampling design that meets your needs.

It is imperative to ensure that the data collection is appropriate to meet the requirements, outcomes, hypotheses etc of the project/study. Incorrect data collection techniques can result in meaningless information that leads to wrong inferences being made.

CAS specialises in hierarchical and partially hierarchical sampling designs, Before and After Impact (BACI) designs, repeated measures designs and much more. We employ the most up to date univariate and/or multivariate statistical analyses and provide clear explanations of the results and their subsequent meaning.

As physical processes often shape biological communities, we advocate the collection of physical data e.g., light, sediment, nutrients, currents etc. in tandem with biological data. This, in turn, enables us to determine the magnitude of effects and processes through space and time.

CAS often uses remote video surveys for broad-scale habitat identification and mapping. The survey methodology involves recording digital video images of the seabed at pre-determined locations. Video images are obtained by a drop camera, which consists of an underwater camera connected via cable to a surface recording unit. Video samples are then layered over geo-referenced maps and provided in either CD-Rom or DVD format. This method of survey has been used in numerous applications. Video surveys often compliment quantitative surveys.