Information on analyses

Detailed information and examples of virtually all the analyses offered by PRIMER v7 are found in the accompanying Methods manual: Clarke KR, Gorley RN, Somerfield PJ, Warwick RM 2014, Change in Marine Communities, 3rd edn, PRIMER-E Ltd, Plymouth (henceforth referred to by its initials, CiMC). However, in order not to break the flow of the coherent strategy outlined there, in a few cases it was preferable to give more detailed formulae and descriptions here (e.g. of all the resemblance measures available, and the necessary adjustments to each in the case of missing data etc). In addition, the software has a Help system, but the availability of comprehensive Methods and User/Tutorial manuals in searchable pdf format, downloadable from the Help menu, has allowed the Help system itself to be relatively succinct.

If you are familiar with PRIMER 6, it is suggested you read Section C, on the many enhancements in PRIMER 7, and then try out the software on some of the Examples that come with the software, available from the PRIMER Help menu (under Get Examples V7). New features in version 7 are indicated in the manual by a vertical red dotted line in the margin.

New users should start with Sections B, D and E, and then work selectively through the detailed material of the manual. This is written in the style of a continuous Tutorial but functions also as detailed Reference material. Analyses of specific data examples can be tracked via the ‘Index to data sets’ at the end of the manual.