The Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program has transformed itself from a loosely-affiliated collection of sites to an integrated network. Recent accomplishments include: equipment and software standardization; creation of an effective electronic networking system; standardization in data collection and management; collaboration in ecological research including multi- site experiments, and comparative analyses and syntheses addressing major ecological issues; development of the infrastructure for support of intersite activities; major efforts to identify appropriate technologies and to train LTER scientists in their application; and creation of long-term plans identifying network goals and action programs. Collectively the LTER Network has expanded its focus to include larger spatial dimensions (regional and global) in its long term research and assumed a leadership role in ecological research related to global change. The networked activity of LTER has allowed scientific collaboration that has spread far beyond the formal LTER Network. This interest in collaboration with and by the larger ecological community, and other research organizations and agencies, has led to increased requests for the Network Office to provide research coordination and communications not only within LTER, but to the larger ecological community. The LTER electronic mail forwarding system developed at the Network Office, has been particularly effective in providing a simple means of rapid communication and data exchange for ecologists. This project will support the activities which facilitate collaborative research in the LTER Network. Most of the resources will be used to support the infrastructure of the organized, electronically-linked group of ecological scientists working on multi-site research and synthesis within and beyond the formal LTER program. Proposed activities include: (1) Development of on-line, long-term data bases, and operation and expansion of electronic networking; (2) Acquisition, archiving, and analytic use of an array of remote sensing imagery for the LTER sites; (3) Maintenance of the facilitating infrastructure and publication program associated with the Coordinating Committee and Network Office; and (4) Increased involvement with other long-term research programs both domestically (e.g., sponsored by agencies such as DOE, USDA, and USGS) and internationally. Research and development efforts by the Network staff will occur in areas of database management, remote sensing, and geographic information systems.
