Published

Principal Investigator(s):

BACKGROUND
      Monitoring nutrients in precipitation inputs and other ecosystem fluxes has advanced our understanding of biogeochemical cycling.  However, uncertainty due to variability or error in observations and models has rarely been reported in ecosystem studies. This makes it difficult to determine rates of change over time or compare results across multiple sites with quantitative confidence.  Failure to address uncertainties can lead to erroneous conclusions, for example in identifying missing sources and sinks. Uncertainty analyses can also help to improve efficiency in ecosystem monitoring efforts, allowing sampling designs to maximize information gained relative to the resources required for data collection and analysis.  In this Synthesis Working Group, we propose to develop and apply approaches to estimating uncertainty in precipitation inputs of nutrients for several LTER sites.

Products:

    Publications:

    1) Yanai, R.D., C.R. Levine, M.B. Green, and J.L. Campbell. 2012. Quantifying Uncertainty in Forest Nutrient Budgets, J. For. 110(8): 448-456).

    2) Yanai, R.D., S.P. Hamburg, M.A. Vadeboncoeur, M.A. Arthur, C.B. Fuss, C.T. Driscoll, P.M. Groffman and T.G. Siccama. From missing source to missing sink: long-term nitrogen dynamics in the northern hardwood forest. Ecosystems. In preparation.

    3) Yanai, R.D., E. Matsuzaki, N. Tokuchi, J.L. Campbell, M.B. Green, C.R. Levine, Fukushima, S. Laseter, C. Brown, J. Knoepp, J. Vose, A. Bailey, D. Buso, G.E. Likens. A comparison of uncertainty in stream export of solutes from headwater catchments at Wakayama, Hubbard Brook and Coweeta Experimental Forests. Hydrological Processes. In Preparation.

    4) Campbell, J.L, R.D. Yanai, M.B. Green, C.R. Levine, M.E. Harmon, J. Vose, M.B. Adams, W.H. McDowell, S. Sebestyen , and M. Williams. Quantifying uncertainty in ecology: examples from small watershed studies. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. In Preparation.

Start Date: December 31, 2011
Meeting Dates:
  • May 21, 2012 - May 22, 2012: ,
Synthesis Products:
Participants:
  • Theresa Valentine
  • Stephanie Laseter
  • Sherry Johnson
  • Shannon LaDeau
  • Ruth Yanai
  • Matt Petrie
  • Mark Green
  • Kathy Weathers
  • John Campbell
  • Jennifer Knoepp
  • Doug Moore
  • Craig See
  • Chris Daly
  • Adam Skibbe
Sites Represented:
  • AND, CWT, HBR, SEV, KNZ