The Experience of Long Term Ecological Research

Network in Taiwan

Yue-joe Hsia[1] Hen-biau King[2] Ming-shiung Lin[3]

[1] Institute of Nature Resources, National Donghwa Univ. Hualien[2] Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei[3] Division of Biological Science, National Science Council, Taipei

Principal objective of the TERN program

To understand long-term ecological phenomena and processes within Taiwan’s dominant ecosystems.

TERN’s major concern is to gather baseline data on the productivity, diversity, structure, and function/process of Taiwan’s major ecological systems.

The program focuses on the long-term impacts of major disturbances (such as natural erosion, typhoon, monsoon, pollution and land use, etc.) at the research sites.

objectives

1) Understanding, processes and mechanisms of ecosystem dynamics;

2) Studying the major natural and human disturbances which affect ecosystem dynamics and ecosystem responses;

3) Identifying ecological processes to address environmental changes;

objectives

4) Sharing research ideas and base-line data with scientists from other ecological sites through meetings and international networking; and

5) Promoting collaborative research projects with scientists from other ecological sites, particularly sites with similar ecological settings;

objectives6) Providing science-based information to

decision makers in formulating environmental policy;

7) Training young scientists in ecology and using the long-term sites as resources for education;

8) Incorporating research results into ecology curriculums at all levels of education, particularly in the field of subtropical forest ecology.

How did TERN start ?

Lesson from the past: A series of experiments at the TFRI experimental forest watersheds

Questions:

The effects of logging on hydrological regimes and stream water chemistry

Extended research topics﹕Hydrological

processes and nutrient budget of natural hardwood forest and plantations

Lessons learned: Needs

• Long term baseline monitoring

• Steady budget and research manpower

universitiesresearch institutesmanagement

agenciesNSC

Fushan LTER site

Research focus:

• The effect of acid deposition on forest

ecosystem - regional scale question

• Regeneration mechanism of natural

evergreen hardwood forest at low and

middle altitude in Taiwan – a local

scale or stand level question

Positive Decisions of US/LTER

Single agency core funding for LTER; All new money for LTER; Single program officer responsibility for LTE

R; Close interaction between the NSF and proj

ects; Callanhan, J.T. 1991. Long-term Ecological Research in the United

States: A Federal Perspective

Positive Decisions of US/LTER

Pre-defined core areas for organizing proposals;

Separate support for most co-ordination efforts;

Efforts to broaden the LTER-affiliated community. Callanhan, J.T. 1991. Long-term Ecological Research in t

he United States: A Federal Perspective

TERN 2000 research themes:

Effect of disturbances (typhoon, monsoon,

and fire) on terrestrial ecosystems

Cross sites comparison on nutrient budget

and decomposition

Plant － Animal interactions

Measurement and estimation of NPP

Difficulties of US/LTER

Lack of formal organizational structure caused the slower rate of interproject collaboration

Need for the adoption of standards of performance with regard to some types of data, and especially with regard to how and in what formats the data are

Callanhan, J.T. 1991. Long-term Ecological Research in the United States: A Federal Perspectivemaintained

Improvement needed for TERN Lacking large spatial scale projects; Lacking lead scientists to undertake

synthesis of ecological data; Needs in establishment of a framework

for ecological data archive; Needs to integrate short-term research

with TERN; Needs to promote collaborative and

comparative research across sites and among other national and international research programs.

Progress

promotions of LTER concept to some governmental organizations, press media, and public through various means

additional LTER sites will be established in the National Park system a coastal coral reef site at Kengting National Par

k a river gorge site at the Taroko National Park