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The Harvard Forest Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program is one
of a national network of long-term ecological research sites. The
Harvard Forest LTER program examines ecological dynamics in the New
England region resulting from natural disturbances, environmental
change, and human impacts. Emphasis is on processes including:
-wind and fire
-past climate change
-land-use and land cover dynamics
-atmospheric pollution, especially nitrogen deposition and ozone
-projected increases in global temperature
-land management, land policy and conservation
An interdisciplinary group of scientists from many parts of Harvard
and other institutions use three complementary approaches to long-term
study:
-historical studies of past conditions and dynamics
-intensive measurements of current structure and function
-measurements of integrated ecosystem response to experimental manipulations
under relatively controlled conditions
Studies span a broad range of spatial and temporal scales and seek to:
-develop information
-train new researchers
-educate the public
-develop databases with broad relevance to fundamental ecological issues
-provide strong application to societally relevant environmental concerns
LTER related research include:
-Large Experiments
-Regional Studies
-Invasive Plants, Pests & Pathogens
-Historical & Retrospective Studies
-Modeling
Website: "http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/"
[Summary provided by Harvard Forest LTER.]
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