LTREB: Responses of high elevation, aquatic ecosystems to interannual climate variability and trends in nutrient inputs

湖泊和河流生态系统将其流域内的条件和区域气候变化结合在一起。以前对内华达山脉高海拔水生生态系统的研究结果表明，磷对生物活性的重要性发生了变化。这项拟议的研究将检验这样一种假设，即不断变化的雪情和大气中磷的输入正在推动高海拔湖泊的生态变化。将继续测量内华达山脉南部湖泊和溪流的化学和生物条件，应用先进技术确定大气输入，并对土壤和沉积物中的磷进行生物地球化学分析，以验证这一假设。高海拔湖泊是区域环境变化的良好指标，越来越多地被监管机构用来确定大气污染物的临界负荷。此外，山地积雪对西部各州淡水供应的重要性要求对这些系统给予特别关注。在高海拔地点继续进行二十多年的气象、水文、化学和生物测量，将增加它们作为区域变化情况探测器的价值。国家公园管理局将继续在解释性项目中使用拟议的研究，以证明科学研究在国家公园中的作用。当地高中生参与研究培养了对自然环境的兴趣，并鼓励这些学生上大学并追求职业生涯。

Lake and stream ecosystems integrate conditions within their catchments and regional climatic changes. Results of prior studies in high elevation aquatic ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada have indicated changes in the importance of phosphorus to biological activity. The proposed research will test the hypothesis that the changing snow regime and atmospheric inputs of phosphorus are driving ecological changes in high elevation lakes. Continued measurements of chemical and biological conditions in lakes and streams in the southern Sierra Nevada, application of advanced techniques to determine atmospheric inputs, and analyses of phosphorus biogeochemistry in soils and sediments will be conducted to test the hypothesis. High elevation lakes are excellent indicators of regional environmental changes and are increasingly being used by regulatory agencies to establish critical loads for atmospheric pollutants. Further, the importance of montane snowpacks to freshwater supplies of the western states mandates that particular attention be paid to these systems. Continuation of more than two decades of meteorological, hydrological, chemical and biological measurements in sites at high elevation will increase their value as detectors of conditions as regional variations occur. The proposed studies will continue to be used by the National Park Service in interpretative programs to demonstrate the role of scientific research in the National Parks. Engagement of local high school students in the studies fosters an interest in natural environments and encourages these students to attend college and pursue professional careers.