LTER III: Long-Term Ecological Research on the Luquillo Experimental Forest

卢基洛实验森林长期生态研究方案始于1988年，目的是将干扰状况、森林结构和动态的研究与景观相结合。讨论了两个中心研究主题：(1)LEF四个热带雨林生命带内不同干扰类型的相对重要性；(2)生物群在干扰后恢复生态系统生产力方面的重要性。作为LEF-LTER的一部分启动的长期监测方案对于评估1989年袭击波多黎各的雨果飓风的直接影响以及LEF森林生态系统对这一严重干扰的长期反应至关重要。对几次不太严重的风暴和随后的飓风(1998年的乔治飓风)的影响进行了监测，使LEF-LTER处于研究最彻底的森林生态系统反复遭受飓风干扰的位置。在确定其他自然干扰(山体滑坡、树木坠落、洪水和干旱)的空间和时间模式方面也取得了重要进展。LEF-LTER还有助于确定人类干扰在塑造热带生态系统结构和功能方面的主要重要性。在LEF中，可追溯到1930年代‘S之前的人类干扰遗产在今天作为森林结构和物种组成变化的重要来源出现。人类干扰通过使特定事件更有可能发生(例如，道路附近的山体滑坡)或增加其严重性来影响自然干扰制度。1988年开始的长期实验和测量仍将是LEF-LTER的中心重点。将继续强调飓风和人类干扰对森林生态系统动态的影响。将进一步注意破译生物群之间的相互作用及其对决定对自然干扰的反应的关键生态系统变量的影响。新的倡议将扩大对干扰和生态系统反应的全面分析，以包括高达卢基洛山脉顶峰的海拔。

The Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) program began in 1988 with the goal of integrating studies of disturbance regime and forest structure and dynamics with a landscape perspective. Two central research themes were addressed: (1) the relative importance of different disturbance types within the four tropical rain forest life zones of the LEF, and (2) the importance of the biota in restoring ecosystem productivity after disturbance. The long-term monitoring program initiated as part of the LEF-LTER was critical to the evaluation of the immediate effects of Hurricane Hugo, which struck Puerto Rico in 1989, and the long-term response of the forested ecosystems of the LEF to that severe disturbance. Monitoring of the effects of several less-severe storms and a subsequent hurricane (Hurricane Georges in 1998) has resulted in the LEF-LTER being in the position of the most thoroughly studies forested ecosystem subjected to repeated hurricane disturbance. Important strides also have been made in determining the spatial and temporal patterns of other natural disturbances (landslides, treefalls, floods, and drought). The LEF-LTER also has been instrumental in establishing the predominant importance of human disturbance in molding the structure and functioning of tropical ecosystems. In the LEF, legacies of human disturbance dating from before the 1930's appear in present times as important sources of variation in forest structure and species composition. Human disturbance affects natural disturbance regimes by making particular events more likely to occur (e.g., landslides near roads) or increasing their severity. The long-term experiments and measurements initiated in 1988 will remain the central focus of the LEF-LTER. Emphasis on the impacts of hurricanes and human disturbances on ecosystem dynamics of the LEF will continue. Further attention will be directed at deciphering interactions among the biota and their impact on critical ecosystem variables that determine responses to natural disturbances. New initiatives will expand the comprehensive analysis of disturbance and ecosystem response to include elevations up to the summit of the Luquillo Mountains.