Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program
Compiled by
Richard Reynolds
U.S. Geological Survey
The National Science Foundation established in 1980
the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program
to support research on ecological phenomena in the United States. Of
the 18 sites in the current program, four are in the Southwest as
covered in this Workshop:
- Jornada Basin, Las Crucas, New Mexico - Hot desert
- Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, near Albuquerque, New Mexico -
Multiple environments-intersection of subalpine mixed conifer
forest/meadow, riparian cottonwood forest, dry mountainland, grassland,
cold desert, hot desert
- Niwot Ridge-Green Lakes Valley, Front Range, Colorado - Alpine tundra
- Shortgrass Steppe, Nunn Colorado - Shortgrass steppe
Goals of the LTER Program
- Understand general ecological phenomena over long periods of time and
over great distances.
- Conduct long-term experiments and observations for use by future
generations.
- Synthesize results and develop new theories for future research.
- Provide information for better identification and solution of societal
problems.
Core Areas of Research
- Pattern and control of primary production
- Distribution of plant and animal populations in time and space
- Pattern and control of the accumulation of organic matter in soils and
sediments
- Patterns of the inputs and movements of inorganic nutrients through
soils, groundwater, and surface water
- Patterns and frequency of site disturbances
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/impacts/biology/LTER/
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Page Last Modified: Tue 18-May-2004 11:32:16 MDT