Earth Sciences Commons^™

Freshwater Imperative - Executive Summary, Long Term Ecological Research Network

Long Term Ecological Research Network

Fresh water is a strategic resource in a rapidly changing world. It is a source of energy, an avenue of transportation, habitat for a myriad of organisms, and essential for life. Fresh water structures the physical landscape, is a central feature of climate, and exerts major influences on economic growth and demographic patterns. Yet, as the human population increases, more and more demands are placed on freshwater ecosystems. Already, sufficient clean water and healthy aquatic habitats have become a rare natural resource.

Understanding the abilities and limits of freshwater ecosystems to respond to human-generated pressures has become vital to long-term …

Soil Biodiversity: Its Importance To Ecosystem Processes, Long Term Ecological Research Network

Long Term Ecological Research Network

Report of a Workshop Held at The Natural History Museum, London, England

Soil Warming Experiments In Global Change Research, Long-Term Ecological Research Network

Long Term Ecological Research Network

The report of a workshop held in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

There is widespread consensus that the global temperature is likely to increase by about 1° C during the next 35 years as a result of enhanced retention of the Earth's reradiation by "greenhouse" gases (IPCC 1990). The anticipated rate of global warming will exceed all known climate changes during human history and during the development of all human socio-economic systems, including agriculture. These changes in climate will have unprecedented impact on natural and managed ecosystems.

As a result of concern about soil warming caused by anticipated global climate change, the …