9407794 Freckman This U.S.-Hungary developmental effort will create new links among a broad community of ecosystem specialists in the United States and Hungarian specialists in taxonomic biological surveys. The intent is to broaden the NSF supported activities at Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites through an extended international network with sites in Eastern Europe, beginning with Hungary. Dr. Diana W. Freckman of Colorado State University will serve as the U.S. principal investigator. Her Hungarian counterpart will be Dr. Edit Kovacs-Lang at the Institute of Ecology and Botany of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Together they will organize a series of interactive visits. The first will bring LTER scientists to Hungary to examine sites which possess extensive biological surveys and long-term data sets of species assemblages. U.S. and Hungarian researchers will discuss methods for collecting and organizing this wealth of biodiversity data. A second visit will bring Hungarian counterparts to LTER sites to discuss methods of managing such vast sources of long-term ecological data. The final visit will bring the U.S. and Hungarian participants together for a workshop in Hungary to formulate plans for collaborative, long-term research in biodiversity that will draw upon the strengths of both communities. Results are expected to build considerable impetus for integrating biodiversity research with ongoing research at LTER sites and to lead to a strengthened capacity for international comparisons for study of global problems. These developmental ecological exchanges fulfill the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence. ***
