Editorial

Learning from the past is key to long-term ecological research and to how we conduct and organize our science. My thoughts here focus on our beginnings and how far we have come.

Letter from LNO LPI

The National Science Foundation (NSF) conducted a midterm site review of the LTER Network Office (LNO) from October 10-11, 2005.

Letter from the Editor

Anyone familiar with the national Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network must have noticed the fast pace of current activity within the network, and this issue of The Network News certainly reflects that pace.

This issue of the network newsletter introduces a new format for communicating information to LTER scientists, students, and colleagues.

While the concept of LTER sites operating as a network has been around since the inception of the program, it has been slow to develop.

Three "New" Sites

In September, 3 new sites were added to the LTER Network. This addition brings the total number of sites In the network to 17.

I am struck by the thought that after nearly six years of LTER work we seem to be at the point of beginning again.

The responses received after issue 1 of the LTER Network News was distributed were enthusiastic, to say the least, and we would like to thank you — and request more responses.

Preparation of this article is an opportunity to present an LTER synthesis from the point of view of the Foundation.

This is the first of what is planned as a continuing newsletter designed to present the latest efforts in the Long Term Ecological Research program.