Disturbance & Variance: Detecting Change in Terrestrial & Aquatic Ecosystems

Proposal for ASM workshop follow-up (coPIs: Rusak, Fraterrigo and Turner) Disturbance and Variance: Detecting change in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems Rationale and Conceptual Framework Populations, communities, and ecosystems vary in space and time. Variability is a fundamental property of natural systems, and its quantification and interpretation cross boundaries between many different disciplines. However, our understanding… Read more »

Long-term Effects of Land Use History on Carbon & Water Balance

Many LTER sites and research projects outside the LTER Network are demonstrating there are common patterns to land use history. However, there is major uncertainty in our understanding of the effects of land use on the global patterns of carbon and water exchange. The LTER Network is in a unique position to address this topic… Read more »

Species Richness in Space and Time

Estimating the number of species in a community or ecosystem is a fundamental problem in basic and conservation ecology. Basic researchers use biodiversity estimates to study latitudinal diversity gradients, to determine relationships between local and regional diversity, and as a response variable in manipulative experiments. Conservation ecologists use such estimates to prioritize conservation efforts (Myers… Read more »

LTER Extreme Events Working Group

Most global climate change scenarios predict an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate events. Ecologists and other scientists engaged in ecosystem research recognize that these extreme events will impact their systems, often with effects disproportionate to the extent and duration of the event itself. Despite the importance of extreme events,… Read more »