Research Approaches
- Reconstruction of ecosystem dynamics using paleoecology, historical ecology, and modeling to evaluate long-term trends, to study infrequent processes, and to understand the development of modern conditions
- Measurement of modern ecosystem structure, composition, processes, and dynamics on permanent plots, through remote sensing, and through eddy flux measurements of atmosphere-biosphere exchanges to define current conditions and rates
- Experimental manipulations of ecosystems to evaluate and compare patterns of response and to collect integrated measurements on multiple processes
- Controlled environment studies of plant and population response to specific environmental change
- Integration through modeling, comparative studies, monthly meetings, annual symposia, and synthetic products
- Application to ecological theory, conservation biology, environmental policy, and forest management
Spatial Scales of Investigation
- Plot - 0.1 km 1. Site - 1 km - Harvard Forest
- Landscape - 10 km - Petersham, MA
- Sub-region - 100 km - Central Massachusetts
- Region - 1000 km - New England and adjacent New York
Disturbances, Stresses, and Environmental Processes Investigated
- Climate change
- Windstorms and other environmental extremes
- Fire
- Native and introduced pathogens
- Land-use: aboriginal, European, and current
- Nitrogen deposition and nitrogen saturation
Education Integrated with Research
- Summer Research Program for Undergraduates and Graduate Students (25-30 students/yr)
- Informal Education Program through the Fisher Museum (>5,000 visitors/yr)
- Graduate Programs through diverse institutions at the MS and Ph.D. level (10-20/yr)
- Bullard Fellowship Program for mid-career Scientists (4-8/yr)
- Conferences, Symposia, and Workshops (>500 participants/yr)