Collaborative Research in the LTER Network

这一研究项目将促进长期生态研究的发展，包括但不限于目前由国家科学基金会支持的长期生态研究(LTER)地点的工作。目标包括：促进和促进合作研究，特别是联合实验和比较分析，以及生物群落内部和之间的生态概念的合成；制定标准化的抽样方案、实验设计和数据管理程序；以及为从事长期研究的地点建立一个通信网络。在过去4年中，这些活动取得了实质性进展，长期热核实验堆协调委员会认识到发展一个实用的多站点网络的潜力及其责任。这些活动将反映出对实现地点间活动潜力的更大承诺。最大的工作将是由资深科学家领导的一系列比较和综合研究：(1)生产力及其控制，利用LTER系统中代表的主要环境梯度；(2)干扰和生态系统动力学，包括次生演替过程、植被动态预测和各种干扰的作用；(3)不同生物群类型的时间变异性和对全球变化的响应模式；(4)景观和区域分析。数据管理工作组将为广泛规划的数据交换招聘一名协调员，继续制定标准化程序，并实施电子联网。气象小组将对这些地点进行两次环境比较分析，修改现有标准，并扩大早期的气候比较。启动相对稳定的同位素研究将有助于在整个网络中传播这项技术。一个站点间小组将解决生态系统建模中的主要概念问题。最后，LTER/CC将继续开展主要的传播活动，例如出版通讯、指南、报告和文章，并介绍专题讨论会。重点是具体的任务和主题，由一名LTER资深科学家负责对每项活动作出富有成效的结论。此外，将有助于生态学的概念基础的更高层次的综合已被优先考虑。与以往一样，个别长期热核实验堆方案将提供大量资金和人员，并将非长期热核实验堆场地纳入所有活动。

This research project will further the development of long-term ecological research including, but not confined to, work at the LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) sites currently supported by NSF. Objectives include: stimulating and facilitating collaborative research, especially joint experiments and comparative analyses, and syntheses of ecological concepts within and among biomes; development of standardized sampling programs, experimental designs, and data management procedures; and creation of a communication network for sites engaged in long-term research. Substantial progress was made in these activities during the last 4 years and the LTER Coordinating Committee (LTER/CC) recognizes the potential of and its responsibilities for development of a functional multi-site network. These activities will reflect an expanded commitment to realizing the potential for intersite activities. The largest body of work will be a series of comparative and synthetic studies led by senior scientists on: (1) productivity and its controls, utilizing major environmental gradients represented in the LTER systems; (2) disturbance and ecosystem dynamics, including processes in secondary succession, prediction of vegetation dynamics, and the role of various types of disturbances; (3) temporal variability across biome types and patterns of response to global changes; and (4) landscape and regional analyses. The data management working group will recruit a facilitator for the extensive planned data exchanges, continue development of standardized procedures, and implement electronic networking. The meteorological group will conduct two comparative environmental analyses of the sites, revise existing standards, and expand an earlier comparison of climates. Initiation of comparative stable isotope studies will assist in propagating this technology throughout the network. An intersite group will address major conceptual issues in ecosystem modeling. Finally, the LTER/CC will continue major communication activities, such as publication of newsletters, guidebooks, reports, and articles and presentation of symposia. Emphasis is on specific tasks and topics with a senior LTER scientist responsible for a productive conclusion to each activity. Furthermore, higher level syntheses which will contribute to the conceptual basis of ecology have been given priority. As before, individual LTER programs will make major contributions of funds and personnel and include non-LTER sites in all activities.