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

安德鲁斯森林位于俄勒冈州西部的喀斯喀特山脉，这是始于1980年的六个原创长期生态研究项目之一。它建立在林业局长期研究历史的基础上，在森林管理和保护方面拥有开创性的科学和应用记录。地形多山，环境坡度很大。森林的特点是高大的老针叶林和高植物生物量，以及作为分水岭水平试验的产品的年轻的次生林。虽然还没有检测到生态系统对气候变化的反应，但预计会发生这种反应，区域信号开始出现。由于复杂的地形和森林结构，降低全球模型对气候变化的预测以预测这一层面的影响是复杂的。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地方尺度上调节区域气候信号。气候变化可能会对高海拔生态系统产生直接影响，但较低的影响可能通过生物动态的变化、昆虫暴发、火灾以及由此对养分可获得性的影响而间接调节。将开发一个网络森林，以提供有关空域动态的新数据，以配合对分水岭动态的历史关注。西部梯级森林具有很高的生态系统服务价值，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，关于这个网站所代表的资源的管理已经有了很长时间和激烈的争论。因此，调查员与当地利益集团、非政府组织和资源管理机构建立了牢固的关系。这些伙伴关系带来了重大的技术转让和推广。一个K-12校园项目有许多教育合作伙伴，而新的网络森林将为新的教育和推广工作做出贡献。

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.