Synergies Among Environmental Science Research and Monitoring Networks: A Research Agenda

Many research and monitoring networks in recent decades have provided publicly available data documenting environmental ecological change, but little is known about the status of efforts to synthesize this information across networks. We convened a working group assess ongoing potential cross-network synthesis outline opportunities challenges for future, focusing on US-based network (the US Long-Term Ecological Research network, LTER) National Observatory Network, NEON). LTER-NEON synergies arise from potentials LTER measurements, experiments, models, observational studies provide context mechanisms interpreting NEON data, measurements standardization broad scale coverage that complement studies. Initial syntheses at co-located sites are addressing six topics: how long-term vegetation change influences C fluxes; detailed remotely sensed reveal structure function; aquatic-terrestrial connections nutrient cycling; ecosystem response soil biogeochemistry microbial processes; population species responses change; disturbance, stability resilience. This initial study offers exciting expanded involving multiple processes regional or continental scales. These could pathway broader scientific community, beyond NEON, engage science. examples also apply many other globally, can guide scientists administrators promoting broad-scale supports resource management policy.