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Site Access
The KBS Long-Term Ecological Research site is maintained as a national research facility available to all scientists with a legitimate research interest. Access to the site is limited in order to protect the integrity of existing experiments, but the project welcomes further experiments and sampling activities that
- are relevant to the overall project goals of understanding ecological interactions in agricultural systems and landscapes,
- that are best answered in a stable long-term experimental setting such as that provided by the LTER site, and
- that meet the project's data-access criteria.
Researchers working on the LTER site or with samples from the site must provide written assurance (via the site use request form - see below) that:
- No sampling will be performed on site without the explicit knowledge and permission of the Project Manager;
- All publications arising from work done on site or with samples or data from the site will acknowledge support from NSF / KBS / LTER (click here for sample text); and
- All data collected from the site will be archived with the KBS LTER Data Manager within a timely period following the publication of results or termination of the sampling activity.
Site Use Request Form
Sampling and the installation of experiments usually requires the submission of a short Site Use Request Form. This form (a Microsoft Word document) should be downloaded, completed, and submitted to the Project Manager at least four weeks prior to the desired starting date to allow time for review by the project staff, and (as warranted) the Executive Committee (quicker turnaround is possible for exceptional circumstances). Approved site use requests are posted here.
It is not usually necessary to submt a SURF for one-time samplings for pilot experiments or other ad hoc purposes. These samplings can be arranged with the Project Manager. In most cases soil and plant samples collected as part of normal project activities (weekly to monthly samplings) can be provided immediately (stored samples) or on the next sampling date. If special sampling effort is required, the project manager will consult with the Project Director for permission to sample and complete an abbreviated site use request form for this sampling.
Letter of Support for Grant Proposals
If you are submitting a grant proposal and would like to include a letter granting preliminary permission to use the site, please email the Project Director noting the names of PI's, the tentative title of the proposal, the funding agency, and a brief description of the proposed project and sample requirements. Be sure to include a full mailing address and the date desired so the support letter can be appropriately detailed and therefore stronger. Include sample text in your request if you would like the letter to make specific points. Our return letter will be provided in pdf format via email. The letter will provide permission pending submission and approval of the Site Use Request Form (as noted above) once the project is funded.
For more information please contact the Project Manager.