In the framework of an initiative to advance biodiversity research in Germany, we will establish three exemplary large-scale and long-term research sites (funded by the German Research Foundation). They are termed Biodiversity Exploratories, in contrast to mainly descriptive observatories. The exploratories will establish and sustain the scientific infrastructure and develop the intellectual framework needed to address critical questions about changes in biodiversity and to evaluate the impacts of those changes for ecosystem processes. Thus, in the exploratories biodiversity and ecosystem research will be merged at a large scale and with a long-term perspective. In this first phase the exploratories will address the relationship between land-use intensity, biodiversity change, and ecosystem functioning for selected taxa. After establishment, these exploratories will also integrate further contributing projects proposed by the German research community. Thus, the biodiversity exploratories will serve as a stimulating research platform for the whole German biodiversity research community. ... [Information of the supplier]
The Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network is a collaborative effort involving more than 1800 scientists and students investigating ecological processes over long temporal and broad spatial scales. The Network promotes synthesis and comparative research across sites and ecosystems and among other related national and international research programs. The 26 LTER Sites represent diverse ecosystems and research emphases. ... [Information of the supplier, modified]
The EuMon project attempts to provide a European framework that standardizes, focuses and coordinates existing monitoring programs by comparing and integrating existing methods and monitoring schemes of species and habitats of community interests. The most successful methods in terms of cost effectiveness, regional robustness will be selected and tested for their European wide applicability. EuMon will pay special attention that existing monitoring programs can incorporate these methods and will give recommendations how new and successful monitoring programs can be established.Special consideration for implementing monitoring programs will be paid by studying the social effects of monitoring regimes, because the relationship between amateurs and professionals are meant to be most important for implementing a successful monitoring regime.The establishing of the NATURA 2000 network is one of the main actions on a European level to halt biodiversity loss. Therefore it is a prerequisite to evaluate its ability to maintain biodiversity. Additionally EuMon will develop methods to name the responsibility of EU Member states for the species and habitats of Community interests living under their protection.A comprehensive database on monitoring schemes and recommended methods will be established and made accessible via an Internet portal. ... [Information of the supplier]
As an initiative of environment agencies from Switzerland, Austria and Germany a new platform was launched: The Environment Observation Conference. More than 20 authorities of 6 nations stand behind it. The 1st resolutions have been published here. The working groups work mainly by electronic means. Since June 2007, the Conference is organised by the Environment Observation and Balance Council (EOBC). The 3rd conference will be in 2008, Berne. To the 4th conference in 2010 - to be held in the ch-de-fr Upper Rhine region - for the first time also participants others than public bodies will be invited. ... [Information of the supplier]
The German network for long term ecological research is intended to be a platform for communication, documentation and collaboration of scientists in long-term, system-oriented and interdisciplinary environmental research in Germany. LTER-D is a member in the international umbrella organisation of LTER (ILTER, www.ilternet.edu). It is an open network, which defines itself exclusively by the commitment of the members to their shared goals. Long-term approaches are particularly important in investigations of environmental changes, because such changes usually occur only gradually and with larger temporal fluctuations overlying the trend. Under such circumstances, only an adequately long observation period can be a sound basis to secure results and to support prognoses. The German LTER is still in the starting phase. The first workshop for mutual information and orientation was held in Duderstadt, central Germany, 24-26 March 2004. At this meeting, scientists from the institutions in Germany, which perform long-term ecological research in all relevant ecosystem types from the high mountains to the Wadden Sea, presented their concepts and results. The diversity, quality and potential of German LTER showed up clearly, and in future it will be further augmented by integrating LTER-D into the global ILTER-process. ... [Information of the supplier]
The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) is a research programme that studies the phenomenon of Global Change. The vision of IGBP is to provide scientific knowledge to improve the sustainability of the living Earth. IGBP studies the interactions between biological, chemical and physical processes and interactions with human systems and collaborates with other programmes to develop and impart the understanding necessary to respond to global change. IGBP´s research goals are: To Analyze the interactive physical, chemical and biological processes that define Earth System dynamics; The changes that are occurring in these dynamics; The role of human activities on these changes. ... [Information of the supplier, modified]
A main aim of the Jena-Experiment is to study ecosystem processes on experimental plots, and over a large time-scale. Since 2002 the experiment yielded time-series data on a wide range of ecosystem processes, ranging from productivity, C-storage, and N-cycling to herbivory, pollination and decomposition. For all plant species investigated, a large number of demographic, morphological and physiological variables are compiled. Each participant of the projects has therefore a specific role in the research group, e.g. for investigating Interspecific Interactions in communities, or explore Water and Element Cycling like aboveground and belowground processes, or Applied Aspects (e.g. effects of biodiversity on energy production). A particular strength of the research group is the complementary of the approaches in different subprojects and the syntheses and Integration of the data. Since 2002, therefore an international and interdisciplinary network of scientist was created for research on the complex relationship between ecosystems in an exemplary experimental field site nearby Jena in Germany. The strengths of the Jena Experiment, a full quantification of the most important element cycles as well as a coordinated investigation of above-ground and below-ground processes will be used to unravel the mechanisms underlying the observed biodiversity effects. These include species like decomposers (earthworms, arthropods and microbes), producers (60 species of plants), and consumers (species of herbivorous arthropods or parasitoids). ... [Information of the supplier]
A functional prototype of the Biodiversity-Exploratory Information System (BExIS) has been established by Dr. Jens Nieschulze and colleages (group leader Prof. Dr. Ernst-Detlef Schulze), MPI Biogeochemistry Jena. The system is heavily used within the project "Biodiversity Exploratories", mostly by the resources and map functionality but increasingly also by its data management capabilities. ... [Information of the supplier]
The Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) occupies a unique position, not only in Canada but in the world, as a dedicated research facility for ecosystem-scale experimental investigations and long-term monitoring of ecosystem processes (Anonymous 1990). Located in a sparsely inhabited region of southern Canada, the ELA is relatively unaffected by external human influences and industrial activities. As such, it serves as a natural laboratory for the study of physical, chemical and biological processes and interactions operating on an ecosystem spatial scale and a multi-year time scale. The ELA includes 58 small lakes (1 to 84 ha) and their drainage basins, which have been set aside and are managed through a joint agreement between the Canadian and Ontario governments. Only research activities, or activities compatible with that research, are permitted within or adjacent to these watersheds. Data records from these watersheds began in 1967 and experimental studies began in 1969. While the ELA is operated by the Central and Arctic Region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) from its Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, Canada, research at this unique facility is jointly conducted by researchers from DFO and from a variety of partner organizations ... [Information of the supplier]
The Census of Marine Life is a growing global network of researchers in more than 70 nations engaged in a ten-year initiative to assess and explain the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life in the oceans -- past, present, and future. This site is a portal for the Census of Marine Life. The site is designed to provide quick and easy access to all elements of the Census and basic information about each element for the interested public. It is also a central location for news and information about the Census. ... [Information of the supplier]