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