Modeling Complex Interactions of Overlapping River and Road

Networks in a Changing Landscape

Programmatic overview

Hypothesis

Preliminary findings

NSF BIOCOMPLEXITY IN THE ENVIRONMENT FY 2003 SPECIAL COMPETITION

DYNAMICS OF COUPLED NATURAL AND HUMAN SYSTEMS

LARGE RESEARCH PROPOSALS

• 249 Biocomplexity proposals

• 74 Coupled Natural & Human systems– 6 “High priority” funding (8%)

NSF Emphasis• Integrate different disciplines• Apply modern technology

– Data acquisition• Remote sensing, DNA….

– Information management• Public access to data, monitoring

• 5 year rule

• Public relevance – Pure vs applied science

Solution RFP’s for Integrated Research Proposals

• Multidisciplinary research teams focused on broad proposals

• Environmental Molecular Science Institutes– Chemists & environmental scientists & industry

• Biocomplexity– Complex biological interactions over range of

spatial and temporal scales– Beyond biodiversity; interactions

Successful proposals must

• Address the inherent complexity and highly coupled nature of relevant natural and human systems as well as their interactions

• Describe plans for the work of interdisciplinary teams from the natural, social, mathematical sciences, engineering, and education – Whose coordinated work will enhance

theoretical understanding

Projects must include

• Quantitative approaches or advanced conceptual models

• Specific plans for education – Graduate students– Road seminar – K-12 education program

Evaluation Criteria • Strength of the collaborations planned and

degree of interdisciplinary• Effectiveness of the group organization and

management plan• Value to education in these topical areas• Strength of the dissemination plans• Extent, effectiveness, and long-term potential

of collaborations with industries, national laboratories, and comparable research centers abroad, when appropriate.

• Our main overarching hypothesis is that an integrated individual-based model will more accurately predict environmental effects than any single physical, biotic or social model by reducing unexplained variation.

Rio Grande de Loiza

Rio Fajardo

Rio Espiritu Santo

Canal Blasina

Rio Mameyes

Rio Herrera

Rio Sabana

Rio Pitahaya Rio Juan Martin

Rio Fajardo

Rio Espiritu Santo Rio Mameyes

Legend

Drains2

Streams

Feature Type

APPARENT LIMIT

CLOSURE LINE

DAM OR WEIR

DITCH OR CANAL

LEFT BANK

MANMADE SHORELINE

REEF

RIGHT BANK

SHORELINE

STREAM

Drains2 is the Project-Derived Stream coverage. Streams is the USGS hydrography coverage.

Apparent limits, closure lines, dam or weir, left bank, manmade shorelines, reefs, right banks and natural shorelines were removed to create drains2. River centerlines were manually digitized to replace the left bank and right bank features. ®

0.25 0 0.25 0.5 0.750.125 Miles

0.3 0 0.3 0.6 0.90.15 Kilometers

1:25,179

Scale

Rio Espiritu Santo

Rio Fajardo

Rio Mameyes

Drainage area vs Channel slope

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(Channel Area * slope) vs % Boulder

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