Colorado mountains
From Long-Term Data to Understanding: Toward a Predictive Ecology
2015 LTER ASM Estes Park, CO - August 30 - September 2, 2015
 

Using Long-term Data to Expand Ecological Theory

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As LTER enters into its 35th year as a network, the opportunity for long-term data to address critical questions that advance general ecological theory and understanding has never been more informed.  In accordance with this meeting’s theme “From Long-term Data to Understanding: Toward a Predictive Ecology”, this proposed working group will build on current, network-level syntheses that integrate long-term data to inform LTER’s core research areas (primary production, population studies, movement of organic matter, movement of inorganic matter, and disturbance patterns).  Our objective is to identify important, general ecological questions that a) derive from key theories, b) are motivated by the analysis of long-term data, and c) require additional, long-term data collection to be answered. We will 1) review current developing syntheses of long-term primary productivity and inorganic nutrient data, 2) discuss the merit for continuation of long-term data at LTER sites for enhancing forecasts of future ecological patterns, 3) discuss the essential components of a successful integrated framework for LTER long-term core datasets with NEON core datasets that enable regional data and forecasts to be downscaled and related to observed changes at LTER sites, and 4) outline important general ecological questions and theories that are only tenable through continued long-term data collection and analysis of both LTER and NEON core data.

Organizer: 
John Kominoski
Co-organizer(s): 
Steward Pickett
Number of 2 hour sessions requested: 
2
Equipment requested: 
Projector and screen. Wifi
Additional Comments: 
See presentations from 2014 and 2015 LTER Science Council meetings. http://intranet2.lternet.edu/content/2014-lter-science-council-meeting http://intranet2.lternet.edu/content/2015-lter-science-council-meeting
Working Group Reports
Room Assignment: 
Ruesch Auditorium - Dodge (Capacity 50)