RCN: Towards a Unified Ecology of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

云雾森林是热带山区高海拔地区独特而引人注目的生态系统，几乎每天都有持续的云层覆盖。这里的森林是在近连续的薄雾和附生兰花，凤梨和苔藓地毯的树木繁茂的生长。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所知的生态系统之一，很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，以大大提高我们对这些生态系统的了解。目前，这种理解受到各地点的非标准方法和研究方法、科学学科和这些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的限制。在这项研究中，一个中心主题将基于所有热带山地云雾森林共同的一系列特征，包括小，发育不良和生长非常缓慢的树木，这些树木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，如果没有一个综合的网络，这一点就无法实现，因为气候、自然地理和生态隔离等关键驱动因素在从岛屿到大陆、从赤道到亚热带地区、从沿海到内陆山脉的很长一段距离上都有很大的差异。这一网络的广泛影响是多方面的。其重点是知识共享和促进教学，将通过面向一般受众的网络信息模块来实现。其中将包括关于热带山地云雾林在生态系统运作中的独特作用的入门读物，特别侧重于水资源。标准化的科学方法将被开发为书面协议和视频教程，以促进更多的采用。这一项目将通过汇集国际研究人员网络、启动多地点研究和实验以及在主要研究地点主办国际会议，从根本上提高研究和教育能力。一个关键的影响将是培训和指导热带国家的学生，这对未来至关重要，但那里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网上论坛，供森林管理人员讨论最新调查结果和解决问题的办法。

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.