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Research Interests Dr. Weishampel's primary research interest is in the field of landscape ecology, i.e., how landscape pattern influences ecological processes and biodiversity. Using simulation models coupled with field observations, he explores how the interplay between abiotic conditions (e.g., habitat structure, natural and anthropogenic disturbance regimes) and biotic processes (e.g., competition, dispersal, growth, succession) governs the behavior of plants and animals at landscape scales. One emphasis of his research is to use models, interfaced with remote sensing (from satellite and airborne instruments) and geographic information systems (GIS), to explore spatial properties of ecological systems to better understand compositional, structural, and functional biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems. Selected Publications
Highlights March 2008: James Angelo (M.S. student in the GAMES Lab) received the best student poster award at the Southern Forestry and Natural Resource Management GIS Conference (SOFOR GIS 2008) in Kissimmee, FL for his study entitled: Using LiDAR and Field Data to Analyze Canopy Structure in a Sand Pine Forest. Co-authors were John F. Weishampel, Hilary M. Swain, and Edwin M. Everham III. February 2008: Biology professor Dr. John Weishampel received a NASA Space Archaeology Program & UCF-UF Space Research Initiative grant for $412,000 entitled, "Remote sensing of ancient Maya Land use features at Caracol, Belize related to tropical rainforest structure". Co-PIs Arlen and Diane Chase (UCF-Anthropology). Using canopy-penetrating LiDAR remote sensing, we will simultaneously map new Maya ruins while simultaneously detailing the above forest structure. Thus, we will assess forest recovery patterns in relation to a variety of ancient land use legacies. This is the most extensive use of LiDAR to detect below-canopy archaeological features to date. May 2005: Pamela Thomas, Jane Waterman, and John Weishampel have been recommended as 2005 CAS Teaching Incentive Program (TIP) award recipients. The TIP program rewards faculty for teaching productivity and excellence. Selection criteria include teaching quality and effectiveness, commitment to instruction, innovation, creativity, and productivity based on a portfolio of assignments and evaluations collected over the previous 4 academic years. April 2005: Associate Professor John Weishampel was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to Canada for the 2005-06 year. December 2004: John Weishampel received one of three 'Master Juggler' awards from the Office of Research and Commercialization. This award is presented to faculty who have successfully juggled eight funded projects this year. July 2004: John Weishampel and Lew Erhart wrote an article on nesting turtles, which was published in August issue of Global Change Biology, along with a picture of the loggerhead turtle that appeared on the cover. Global Change Biology is the number one journal in Environmental Sciences. Links Memberships
Education
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| rbasaria@mail.ucf.edu | Phone: 407-823-2141 | Fax: 407-823-5769 | University of Central Florida Homepage | College of Sciences Homepage |