[ECOLOG-L] MSc opportunity in forest ecology (Canada)
I seek a motivated individual with interests in forest ecology and airborne remote sensing for an MSc project investigating forest canopy structure across a semi-arid "island" forest landscape in the Canadian prairies. Water availability can have a strong bearing on the structure, biomass, and carbon balance of forests. Relationships between soil moisture and forest structure can help in better understanding how increasing aridity may affect the long-term persistence of forest cover near the prairie-forest ecotone in western Canada, potentially leading to the loss of ecosystem services provided by forests in this region. The successful candidate for this project will survey forest canopies using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and use the resulting imagery, together with aerial LiDAR and ground plot data, to quantify forest structure and biomass across a topographic gradient in soil moisture. He or she will then develop allometric models to assess how the size and form of individual trees, as well as the overall biomass and structure of forest stands, vary with water availability. Field work will be conducted in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, located near the southern end of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. The position will be hosted at the Department of Biology at the University of Regina working under the supervision of Dr. Mark Vanderwel (http://vanderwelforestlab.weebly.com). Applicants should have a BSc, a strong academic record in biology or a related field, and good quantitative skills. Candidates with a background in geography, math, or computer science with interests in ecology are also encouraged to apply. Preferred start date is May 2017, but this is flexible. To apply, please send a cover letter describing research interests, a CV, unofficial academic transcripts, and contact information for 2 references by e-mail to mark.vander...@uregina.ca. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
[ECOLOG-L] MSc opportunity in forest ecology (Canada)
MSc opportunity in forest ecology (Canada): Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to quantify forest canopy structure across a moisture-limited landscape I seek a motivated individual with interests in forest ecology and airborne remote sensing for an MSc project investigating forest canopy structure across a semi-arid “island” forest landscape in the Canadian prairies. Water availability can have a strong bearing on the structure, biomass, and carbon balance of forests. Relationships between soil moisture and forest structure can help in better understanding how increasing aridity may affect the long-term persistence of forest cover near the prairie-forest ecotone in western Canada, potentially leading to the loss of ecosystem services provided by forests in this region. The successful candidate for this project will survey forest canopies using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and use the resulting imagery, together with aerial LiDAR and ground plot data, to quantify forest structure and biomass across a topographic gradient in soil moisture. He or she will then develop allometric models to assess how the size and form of individual trees, as well as the overall biomass and structure of forest stands, vary with water availability. Field work will be conducted in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, located near the southern end of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. The position will be hosted at the Department of Biology at the University of Regina working under the supervision of Dr. Mark Vanderwel (http://vanderwelforestlab.weebly.com). Applicants should have a BSc, a strong academic record in biology or a related field, and good quantitative skills. Candidates with a BSc in math or computer science with interests in ecology are also encouraged to apply. Preferred start date is May 2017. To apply, please send a cover letter describing research interests, a CV, unofficial academic transcripts, and contact information for 2 references by e-mail to mark.vander...@uregina.ca. Review of applications will begin on February 27 and will continue until the position is filled.
