Surprises and Insights from Long-Term Aquatic Data Sets and Experiments

Authors

Walter K. Dodds, Division of Biology, Kansas State University
Christopher T. Robinson, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
E. E. Gaiser, Department of Biological Sciences, Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International UniversityFollow
Gretchen J.A. Hansen, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin—Madison
Heather Powell, National Ecological Observatory Network
Joseph M. Smith, Division of Biology at Kansas State University
Nathaniel B. Morse, Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science, University of New Hampshire
Sherri L. Johnson, US Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station
Stanley V. Gregory, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University
Tisza Bell, Montana State University - Bozeman
Timothy K. Kratz, University of Wisconsin - MadisonFollow
William H. McDowell, University of New Hampshire

Abstract

long-term research on freshwater ecosystems provides insights that can be difficult to obtain from other approaches. Widespread monitoring of ecologically relevant water-quality parameters spanning decades can facilitate important tests of ecological principles. Unique long-term data sets and analytical tools are increasingly available, allowing for powerful and synthetic analyses across sites. long-term measurements or experiments in aquatic systems can catch rare events, changes in highly variable systems, time-lagged responses, cumulative effects of stressors, and biotic responses that encompass multiple generations. Data are available from formal networks, local to international agencies, private organizations, various institutions, and paleontological and historic records; brief literature surveys suggest much existing data are not synthesized. Ecological sciences will benefit from careful maintenance and analyses of existing long-term programs, and subsequent insights can aid in the design of effective future long-term experimental and observational efforts. long-term research on freshwaters is particularly important because of their value to humanity.

Comments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

Dodds, W., C. Robinson, E.E. Gaiser, G. Hansen, H. Powell, J. Smith, N. Morse, S. Gregory, T. Bell, T. Kratz, W.H. McDowell. 2012. Surprises and Insights from Long-Term Aquatic Datasets and Experiments. BioScience 62: 709-721.