When: March 21, 2017
Where: Room 375, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia
Even as sea-level rise, drought, and fire increase pressures on some ecological systems, others are benefitting from protection and restoration efforts. But some changes are not reversible. Long-term research employs observations of past changes, together with long-running experiments and modeling to understand the processes responsible for sustaining ecological functions. Drawing on concrete examples and new ecological theory, five researchers from across the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network describe science that can help discern which changes may allow for recovery and which are more likely to irreversibly transform ecological systems.
Posters describing ongoing LTER research and samples of the LTER children’s book series will be on display throughout the morning. To attend, please RSVP to Cheryl Dybas, NSF Public Affairs (cdybas@nsf.gov), at least 24 hours in advance.
| 8:30 a.m. | Coffee, posters, display of Schoolyard LTER book series |
| 9:00 a.m. | Introduction Paula Mabee, Director, NSF Division of Environmental Biology |
| 9:05 a.m. | LTER Introduction: The nature of ecological change Peter Groffman, Chair, LTER Executive Board, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and City University of New York, Co-principal Investigator, Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER |
| 9:15 a.m. | Beyond desertification: New models for state change in drylands Brandon Bestelmeyer, USDA-ARS, Jornada Experimental Range, Co-principal Investigator, Jornada Basin LTER |
| 9:35 a.m. | Fire and ice: Carbon cycling feedbacks to climate in a warming Arctic Michelle Mack, Northern Arizona University, Co-principal Investigator, Bonanza Creek LTER |
| 9:55 a.m. | Climate-resilient coasts: How long-term research and restoration informs management Karen McGlathery, University of Virginia, Principal Investigator, Virginia Coast Reserve LTER |
| 10:15 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. | Remarks James Olds, NSF Assistant Director for Biological Sciences, and Jane Silverthorne, NSF Deputy Assistant Director for Biological Sciences |
| 10:45 a.m. | Legacy of acid rain: A tale of two species. Charles Driscoll, Syracuse University, Co-principal Investigator, Hubbard Brook LTER |
| 11:05 a.m. | Plausible freshwater futures: Yahara watershed, Wisconsin, USA Christopher Kucharik, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Co-Principal Investigator, North Temperate Lakes LTER |
| 11:25 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Panel Discussion: How can long-term science contribute to effective ecosystem management? Moderator: Frank Davis, Director, LTER Network Communications Office |
| 12:15 p.m. | Closing Richard Murray, Director, NSF Division of Ocean Sciences |
| 12:20 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Reception |