Any location research
Study #1: Alex Fremier and southern Host
Where are the best opportunities for rebuilding habitat connectivity by protecting natural capital?
This study uses models of natural capital/ecosystem services to identify locations where conservation of vegetation could improve downstream hydrological conditions and ecosystem services, while increasing habitat connectivity for terrestrial organisms. The study could happen at a regional, country or entire Transect scale. The study could be linked with Payment for Ecosystem Services schemes (such as those in Costa Rica) or other agroforestry or conservation-oriented programs throughout the Transect.
Skillset: Interest in learning WaterWorld and Co$tingNature (policysupport.org). Background in conservation biology or stream hydrology/ecology. Excited to work with models using big data to test applied conservation question in silico.
Study #2: Christian Birkel, Ricardo Sanchez-Murillo, and southern Host:
A spatially distributed approach to estimate transit times using a Gamma lumped convolution integral model driven by a coupled regional isotope-climate model for Costa Rica. Results would allow evaluation of environmental drivers of transit times and their form and the difference between headwaters and larger catchments.
Skillset: some coding skill in R (or similar) and stable isotopes.