Luquillo Experimental Forest

波多黎各的卢基略实验森林（LEF）是一个 高质量的热带森林研究基地， 长期研究计划。 LEF是国家森林， 生物圈保护区，其中包括几个研究自然区 11,231公顷。 该项目的目标是将 干扰状况与森林结构和动态的研究 生态景观的角度。 两项主要研究 （1）不同的相对重要性 四个热带雨林生命带内的干扰类型 （2）在法律上，法律的效力是有限的。 生物区系在恢复生态系统生产力的干扰后。 一 长期（10-40年）和短期（3-5年）相结合 实验将提供研究组件解决：模式， 干扰频率和强度;环境特性 预计随扰动规模、年龄和来源而变化; 生物学特性预期随环境变化而变化 属性;和系统属性出现的影响， 干扰模式、严重程度和频率 环境与生物区系的相互作用。 现有的和新 生成的数据集将纳入一个全面的数据 管理系统，以确保迅速的数据减少，及时 向合作者和其他研究机构传播信息 项目和安全的长期数据存储。 该研究网站是一个很好的一个下运行的 美国农业部/林业局的管理。 林业局将 也通过其活动参与研究 常驻科学家 波多黎各大学将提供 优秀的工作设施。 多机构 研究团队非常强大，组织良好，坚定 致力于必要的合作研究模式， 操作 这项工作的结果将是重要的 基础生态科学的进步以及对管理 热带森林生态系统的生物资源。 生态系统研究计划认为LEF网站和 研究团队作为一个宝贵的补充，以国家网络， 长期生态研究项目。 因此，六年 建议继续提供赠款以支持这一项目。

The Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) in Puerto Rico is a high quality tropical forest research site with a history of long-term research programs. The LEF is a National Forest and a Biosphere Reserve, which contains several research natural areas within its 11,231 ha. The objective of this project is to tie studies of disturbance regime and forest structure and dynamics to an ecological landscape perspective. The two primary research questions address (1) the relative importance of different disturbance types within the four tropical rain forest life zones of the LEF, and (2) the importance of specific elements of the biota in restoring ecosystem productivity after disturbance. A combination of long-term (10-40 year) and short-term (3-5 year) experiments will provide research components addressing: pattern, frequency, and intensity of disturbance; environmental properties expected to vary with disturbance size, age, and origin; biological properties expected to vary with environmental properties; and system properties emergent from the effects of disturbance pattern, severity, and frequency on the mutual interaction of environment and biota. Existing and newly generated data sets will incorporated into a comprehensive data management system to insure prompt data reduction, timely dissemination of information to collaborators and other research projects, and secure long-term data storage. The research site is an excellent one operated under the stewardship of the USDA/Forest Service. The Forest Service will also participate in the research through the activities of its resident scientists. The University of Puerto Rico will provide excellent facilities for the work. The multi-institutional research team is very strong, well organized and firmly committed to the requisite collaborative research mode of operation. Results of this undertaking will be important to the progress of basic ecological science as well as to the management of the living resources of tropical forest ecosystems. The Ecosystem Studies Program regards the LEF site and research team as a valuable addition to the national network of Long-Term Ecological Research projects. Accordingly, a six-year continuing award is recommended in support of this project.