Climate change makes kelp less nutritious

For Southern California reefs and beaches, giant kelp fuels the food web and creates an environment in which biodiversity booms. But the nutritional quality of kelp is lower than it once was, a new study from the Santa Barbara Coastal LTER shows. The culprit? Climate change and warming ocean water, coauthors Dr. Heili Lowman and Kyle Emery find.

Understanding Coral Bleaching: Research and Lessons from Mo’orea

by Jannine Chamorro, Moorea Coral Reef LTER Last September I had the opportunity to participate in a project studying coral bleaching in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. This was the first time I had ever worked in a remote field location. While initially the thought of flying to a place I could not see on a map… Read more »

A walk in the woods – 17 years later

by Ian Yesilonis (Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER) Walking through the woods and observing the trees and animals is something I have always loved to do growing up in Baltimore.  Our temperate deciduous forests in the city are typically smaller patches; however, one park, the Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park (1,216 acres), is quite large and also has big… Read more »

HOW TO MEASURE SOIL MOISTURE IN THE DESERT WITH COSMIC-RAY NEUTRONS?

Author: Stephanie Reiter eLTER TA site: Negev Research stay dates:      09/16 to 01/17   The water bound in our soils, in particular soil moisture, influences plant growth, water infiltration, flood regulation and even climate patterns. Although on a global scale the overall quantity of soil moisture is small (<0.05%), it influences ecological, hydrological and meteorological processes…. Read more »

LTER All Scientists’ Meeting October 1-4, 2018

2018 LTER ASM — Next Generation Synthesis: Strategies and Solutions Planning for the 2018 LTER All Scientists’ Meeting is underway. Dates: Pre-meeting: September 30, 2018 Science Council and other committee meetings Main Meeting: October 1-4, 2018 Credit: © Asilomar Conference GroundsLocation: Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, CA Planning Committee: Katharine Suding, Niwot Ridge LTER (Chair) Sven… Read more »