The U.S. Long-Term Ecological Research sites supported by the National Science Foundation. The 26network sites include diverse ecosystems and shared research resultsfor the purpose of sustainably managing the nation’s biologicalresources. The network includes universities and the USDA RangelandResearch Unit, the USDA Forest Service Pawnee National Grassland,and the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station.Select one of the following grasslands or desert ecosystems:• The Jordan Basin LTER• Konza Prairie LTER• Sevilleta LTER• Shortgrass Steppe LTERConduct research on the ecosystem you selected. You may wish to useone of the following Internet search terms:• Long-term ecological research network• Long-term ecological research sitesWrite 700 to 1,050 words addressing the following:• Select a site from the LTER network.• Describe the purpose of the LTER site that you selected.• Selecttwo research projects from the site.• Summarize the research hypothesis and results of the two projectsyou chose.• What are some of the environmental threats to the LTER site youselected? How do these threats differ from other ecosystems includinggrassland, shrubland, rangeland or deserts?• Describe the plant species in this ecosystem and explain the spatialand temporal factors that influence how these species are spatiallyorganized across the landscape. How does plant self-organizationinfluence the ecosystem’s insects, birds, and mammals? How canresearchers use this information to manage habitats?• What role does fire play in the LTER site you selected? Whichresearch led to this understanding?? What role does fire play in otherecosystems, including grasslands, shrublands, deserts, or rangelandmanagement? Do you think that fire management can lead to thesustainable management in some of these ecosystems?• How can the experimental results from your selected LTER site beapplied to sustainably manage other ecosystems including grassland,shrubland, rangeland, or desert management?.
