Long-Term Ecological Research at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest (LTER6)

安德鲁斯森林位于俄勒冈州喀斯喀特山脉西部，是1980年开始的六个原始长期生态研究项目之一。它建立在林业局长期研究的基础上，在森林管理和保护方面具有开创性的科学和应用记录。地形多山，环境梯度强。森林的特点是高大、古老的针叶林和高植物生物量，以及年轻的次生林，这是流域试验的产物。虽然尚未发现生态系统对气候变化的反应，但预计会发生，区域信号正在开始出现。由于地形和森林结构复杂，将全球模式的气候变化预测缩小到预测这一水平的影响变得复杂。已经开发了计算机模型来帮助预测地形和森林结构如何在局部尺度上调节区域气候信号。气候变化可能对高海拔生态系统产生直接影响，但对低海拔生态系统的影响可能通过生物动态变化、虫害暴发、火灾及其对养分有效性的影响间接介导。将开发一个网络森林，以提供有关气棚动力学的新数据，以平行于对流域动力学的历史关注。西部喀斯喀特森林在生态系统服务方面具有很高的价值，包括木材、水、娱乐、生物多样性和美学。由于它们对社会的价值，关于该遗址所代表的资源的管理一直存在着长期而激烈的争论。因此，调查人员与当地利益集团、非政府组织和资源管理机构建立了牢固的关系。这些伙伴关系导致了重大的技术转让和外联。K-12学校校园项目有许多教育合作伙伴，而新的网络森林将有助于新的教育和推广工作。

The Andrews Forest is located in the western Cascade Mountains of Oregon, one of six original Long-Term Ecological Research projects that began in 1980. It was built on a long research history by the Forest Service and has a record of ground-breaking science and application to forest management and conservation. The terrain is mountainous and with strong environmental gradients. The forest features tall, old-growth conifer stands and high plant biomass, as well as younger, second-growth stands as the products of watershed level experiments. Although no ecosystem response to climate change has yet been detected, it is predicted to occur and regional signals are beginning to emerge. Downscaling climate change predictions from global models to predict impacts at this level is complicated by the complex terrain and forest structure. Computer models have been developed to help predict how terrain and forest structure mediate regional climate signals at local scales. Climate change may have direct affects on high elevation ecosystems, but effects lower down may be mediated indirectly by changes in the dynamics of organisms, insect outbreaks, fire, and consequent effects on nutrient availability. A cyber-forest will be developed to provide new data on air-shed dynamics to parallel the historic focus on water-shed dynamics. Western Cascade forests are highly valued for ecosystem services, including timber, water, recreation, biodiversity and aesthetics. Because of their value to society, there has been a long and intense debate about the management of the resources as represented by this site. As a result, the investigators have developed strong relationships with local interest groups, NGOs and resource management agencies. These partnerships have led to significant technology transfer and outreach. A K-12 schoolyard program has numerous educational partners, while the new cyber-forest will contribute to new education and outreach efforts.