title: A guide to statistical analysis in microbial ecology: a community-focused, living review of multivariate data analyses.
abstract: The application of multivariate statistical analyses has become a consistent feature in microbial ecology. However, many microbial ecologists are still in the process of developing a deep understanding of these methods and appreciating their limitations. As a consequence, staying abreast of progress and debate in this arena poses an additional challenge to many microbial ecologists. To address these issues, we present the GUide to STatistical Analysis in Microbial Ecology (GUSTA ME): a dynamic, web-based resource providing accessible descriptions of numerous multivariate techniques relevant to microbial ecologists. A combination of interactive elements allows users to discover and navigate between methods relevant to their needs and examine how they have been used by others in the field. We have designed GUSTA ME to become a community-led and -curated service, which we hope will provide a common reference and forum to discuss and disseminate analytical techniques relevant to the microbial ecology community.
authors.affiliation: HGF-MPG Group for Deep Sea Ecology and Technology, Bremerhaven, Germany; Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany; MARUM Center for Marine Sciences, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Buttigieg
authors.forename: Alban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramette
mesh_terms: D004463:Ecology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D020407:Internet; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D015999:Multivariate Analysis
keywords: complex data; interactive guide; multivariate statistics; online resource