The Long Term Ecological Research Network: Objectives, design and methods

Abstract

This document collates and describes the objectives of the LTERN Facility, the questions being examined and the field methodologies employed. It includes field data collection protocols (and associated templates) employed by the researchers, and reflections from lead researchers on what they would do differently if they were designing their monitoring networks today. The publication of this manual is a key step towards LTERN providing an archived and sustainable set of long-term data collection procedures. We also hope that other environmental professionals find the detail useful in the design and deployment of future ecological monitoring initiatives. The LTERN Data Portal—released in October 2013—documents individual site protocols associated with published LTERN data packages (see www.ltern.org.au). The release of data packages from LTERN through the Data Portal will be progressive. In time, the LTERN Data Portal will become the most current and informative source for LTERN data collection procedures.