Internship: Remote sensing of tropical forest change Project Description: Neotropical forests are changing in biomass, productivity, and community composition, in part due to human disturbance. The changes are of global consequence, as neotropical forests account for the largest terrestrial share of carbon uptake from the atmosphere. Lianas (woody vines) influence tropical forest dynamics by reducing tree growth and reproduction, and increasing tree mortality. Recently, tropical liana abundance and biomass has increased in tropical forest surveys, while trees have increased relatively less or declined. This research project aims to develop a method to detect liana canopy cover at the landscape scale, quantify its extent, and verify whether it has increased over recent decades. The project utilizes a combination of satellite- and aircraft-based remote sensing imagery linked to a ground-based forest census to quantify liana abundance in a young tropical forest in Panama.
Internship Description: Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with a PhD student to carry out a major research project. The work will involve setting up a network of small forest census plots. The intern will learn to survey and mark forest census plot boundaries, identify lianas, measure liana and tree size, estimate liana canopy cover, and other data collection. The intern will also learn to use survey-grade GPS instrumentation, and will learn remote sensing field verification techniques. The study is being conducted in forests in central Panama managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Interns will have a chance to interact/network with graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and staff scientists from STRI on a weekly basis. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend weekly research seminars at STRI. Apply to be a part of the worlds leading tropical research community today! Qualifications: Ability to work long days in the field under tropical conditions (intense heat, humidity, rain, sun, biting/stinging insects). Background in biology or ecology and Spanish language experience are preferred but not required. This position is intended for current or recent undergraduate students looking to gain tropical field research skills, therefore stipend will be commensurate with previous experience and background. Internship starts early July and will run through the end of August. Please send cover letter (including earliest start date) and resume (with references) to Dave Marvin, [email protected]. See also: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~marvs/index.html.
