Paul Haverkamp

Scientific Researcher Oct 2021 -

Ostschweizer Fachhochschule

• Investigations of invasive species using drone imagery and remote sensing.
• Research into biodiversity and sustainability of landscapes throughout Switzerland.

Postdoc May 2019 - May 2021

Institute of Evolutional Biology & Environmental Studies, University of Zurich

•       Examining effects of increasing flood activity on nesting of Siberian cranes.

•       Evaluation of remote-sensing based Essential Biodiversity Variables in arctic systems.

Postdoc Apr 2017 - May 2019

Institute of Evolutional Biology & Environmental Studies, University of Zurich

•       Examining effects of forest management schemes on changes in bird diversity and population in Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden.

•       Extraction of forest habitat parameters from historical data as input to forest structure modeling.

•       Analysis of bird population and distribution data for examining changing population and niche structure over the past several decades.

•       Survival analysis of long-term Siberian jay data to determine influence of forest structure.

•       Investigation of Siberian jay landscape of fear to determine how predation pressure affects social tolerance and the evolution of cooperation.

Postdoc Mar 2016 - Apr 2017

Institute of Evolutional Biology & Environmental Studies, University of Zurich

•       Investigation of increasing drought frequency dynamics on Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles.

•        Remote sensing and GIS analysis of changes in tortoise habitat NDVI in response to changing rainfall.

•       Upscaling of habitat classification map from high spatial resolution to match moderate spatial resolution NDVI maps, using ArcGIS.

•       Analysis of drone imagery taken over Aldabra Atoll for over 40 drone flights using visible and color-infrared images.

•       Developing methodology to investigate tortoise habitat density using automatic image detection in drone imagery and transect data.

•       Investigate how tortoise habitat density changes during drought periods.

Postdoc Mar 2016 - Apr 2017

Institute of Evolutional Biology & Environmental Studies, University of Zurich

•       Remote sensing analysis of Landsat imagery to develop habitat map at the Kuruman River Reserve in South Africa.

•       Developed GIS based field collection protocol for habitat classification verification.

•       Google Earth Engine time series analysis to identify best image dates to determine seasonality and habitat response due to rainfall.

•       Investigation into how changing habitats may impact meerkat predator defense strategies using GIS and behavioural data.

Principle Investigator Sep 2015 -

Portland, OR

NASA grant Modeling of environmental variables and land-use/land-cover change influence on declining Hawaiian coral reef health since 2000 using HyspIRI-like images. 

•       NASA-funded project examining the use of aerial hyperspectral remote sensing imagery as a proxy for a future hyperspectral satellite.

•       Investigating the ability of imagery to identify benthic substrate change from 2000 – 2018. 

•       Examining how hyperspectral satellite images can be used to identify shallow-water coral reef systems in Hawaii and model drivers of system change. 

•       Large scale data analysis of environmental factors influencing change.

•       Presented findings at NASA workshops.

•       Organized field data collection.

•       Management of budget, grant and report writing, and collaborations with multiple partners.

Biologist/GIS Analyst Feb 2014 - Dec 2015

West Sacramento, CA

•       Developed and implemented research using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to investigate salmonid spawning sites and river flow.

•       GIS analysis of spatial distribution and habitat mapping of salmonid spawning sites in restored and non-restored areas of the Lower American River, Sacramento, CA.

•       GIS mapping and analysis of juvenile salmonid stream survival, movement using VHF-based locations, and microhabitat selection throughout the Central Valley, CA.

•       Prepared research and planning reports to funding agencies.

•       Field leader during in-river salmonid spawning site surveys.

Wilderness Fellow May 2013 - Dec 2013

McGrath, AK

•       Developed a remote sensing-based mapping analysis of wetland drying within the refuge using Google Earth Engine.  This analysis will allow biologists to monitor the state of important wetlands in the refuge in response to climate change.

•       Investigated and developed Wilderness Character Assessment and monitoring protocol for the Innoko Wilderness, including developing indexes to assess and monitor wildlife, habitat, and climate change measures within the designated wilderness, to be used by refuge managers and biologists when making management and research study decisions in the future.

•       Assisted with field research involving banding white-fronted geese, mark-recapture of small mammals, and intensive vegetation surveys.

University of California, Davis 2005 - 2013

Field of study: Geography
Degree: PhD

•       Developed, successfully funded, and implemented study, in collaboration with Argentine scientists in Somuncurá Reserve, Argentina, to identify and investigate the influence of ecological, livestock, and human factors on wildlife (guanaco, Lama guanicoe) movements and habitat selection.

•       Planned and executed environmental assessments of vegetation transects to identify species and height classes in guanaco rangelands, to develop vegetation maps.

•       Used GIS and remote sensing software and R statistical program to analyze Landsat images and vegetation transect data to develop maps of grass and shrub cover of Somuncurá Reserve.

•       Used R statistical program to analyze habitat selection and distribution modeling. 

•       Line-transect surveys and radio-telemetry of VHF-collared guanaco to identify GPS locations, numbers, and age classes of wildlife and domestic animals, and identified and evaluated wildlife habitat type and quality.