RCN: Towards a Unified Ecology of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

云雾林是一种独特而引人注目的生态系统，位于热带山区的高海拔地区，那里几乎每天都有持续的云层覆盖。这里的森林几乎是连绵不断的薄雾，茂密的附生兰花、凤梨科植物和苔藓覆盖着树木。这些生态系统不仅美丽，而且在生物多样性保护、水资源和人类生计方面发挥着关键作用。然而，它们是世界上最不为人知的生态系统之一，可能特别容易受到全球变化的影响。该项目建立在一个国际研究协调网络的基础上，以极大地增加我们对这些生态系统的了解。目前，由于不同地点的非标准方法和研究方法、不同科学学科和生态系统所在国家之间的文化差异以及缺乏对当前研究的综合，对生态系统的理解受到了限制。在这项研究中，一个中心主题将基于所有热带山地云雾林的一系列共同特征，包括矮小、发育不良和生长非常缓慢的树木，这些特征将有助于组织和标准化研究。在这样做的过程中，它还将导致标准化的科学技术、新技术和跨学科方法，以及大规模数据集的综合。事实上，如果没有一个综合网络，就不可能实现这一目标，因为气候、地理和生态隔离等关键驱动因素在从岛屿到大陆、赤道到亚热带地区以及从沿海到内陆山脉的大范围内差异巨大。这个网络的广泛影响是无数的。它的重点是知识共享和促进教与学，将通过基于网络的信息模块服务于一般受众。其中包括一本关于热带山地云雾林在生态系统功能中的独特作用的入门书，特别侧重于水资源。标准化的科学方法将以书面协议和视频教程的形式发展，以促进更多的采用。该项目将通过汇集一个国际研究人员网络、启动多地点研究和实验以及在关键研究地点举办国际会议，从本质上增强研究和教育的能力。一个关键的影响将是对热带国家学生的培训和指导，这对未来至关重要，但这些国家的学生机会通常有限。最后，该网络将制定一项森林管理协议和一个基于网络的论坛，供森林管理者讨论最新的发现和解决问题的办法。

Cloud forests are unique and striking ecosystems found at high elevations on tropical mountains where persistent cloud cover forms almost every day. Here the forest is in near continual mist and luxuriant growth of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads and mosses carpet the trees. These ecosystems are not only beautiful, but play a critical role in biodiversity protection, water resources, and human livelihoods. Yet they are among the least known ecosystems in the world and are likely to be exceptionally vulnerable to global change. This project builds on an international research coordination network to dramatically increase our understanding of these ecosystems. Currently that understanding is limited by nonstandard approaches and research methods across sites, cultural differences among the scientific disciplines and countries where these ecosystems occur, and a lack of synthesis of current research. In this study, a central theme will be based on a set of characteristics that is common across all tropical montane cloud forests, including small, stunted and very slow growing trees that will serve to organize and standardize research. In so doing, it will also lead to standardized scientific techniques, new technologies and interdisciplinary approaches, and synthesis of datasets across large scales. Indeed, this cannot be accomplished without an integrated network, since the key drivers, such as climate, physiography, and ecological isolation, vary tremendously over large distances from islands to mainlands, equatorial to subtropical regions, and from coasts to inland mountain ranges. The broader impacts of this network are numerous. Its focus on knowledge sharing and promoting teaching and learning will be accomplished through web based information modules serving a general audience. These will include a primer on the unique role of tropical montane cloud forests in ecosystem functioning, focusing especially on water resources. Standardized scientific methods will be developed as written protocols and video tutorials produced to promote additional adoption. This project will inherently enhance the capacity for research and education by bringing together an international network of researchers, initiating multisite studies and experiments, and hosting international meetings at key research sites. A key impact will be the training and mentoring of students in tropical countries, vital for the future, but where student opportunities are usually limited. Finally, the network will develop a forest management protocol and a web based forum for forest managers to discuss the latest findings and problem solving.