Each RET will work with scientist mentors and at least one other RET to engage in authentic research activities related to the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. In the first summer, the length of the field experience varies depending on the site, but participants should plan to spend up to 6 weeks total on field work, sample, and data analysis. In the second summer, participants may spend up to 2 weeks in the field collecting data and tying up loose ends. Cross-ecosystem comparisons will provide insight into the  following questions: 

  1. How do drivers of biodiversity differ across terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, and saltwater aquatic environments? 
  2. How do biodiversity and climate combine to influence ecosystem function  (e.g. net primary productivity, natural carbon sequestration by ecosystems)?  
  3. How do marine and  terrestrial heat waves, drought, or other extreme climate-related events influence species populations and ultimately biodiversity? 

Project options at the individual sites include: 

Arctic LTER: Fertilization, fire and plant community change

The Arctic tundra ecosystem has naturally low biodiversity and is experiencing changes due to the influences of climate change. Over the...

Credit: SBC LTER

Santa Barbara Coastal LTER: Biodiversity and marine heatwaves in the kelp forest ecosystem.

RET projects at the Santa Barbara Coastal LTER site will focus on marine heatwaves, a research focus that connects to the...

Researchers examining understory plants

Credit: CC BY-SA 4.0: Joe LaManna

Andrews LTER: Forest understory biodiversity and climate change

Pacific Northwest forests contain some of the largest reserves of forests on the planet, but many questions remain unanswered about how...

stream sampling

Credit: CC BY-SA 4.0: Andrews Forest LTER

Andrews LTER: Biodiversity and riverscapes

Field investigation lesson for the 2016 Numbers in Nature: Math on the Mountain project Many species that rely upon mountain streams...