Although hundreds of experiments have been conducted at Cedar Creek LTER, a few major research platforms have been central to our most impactful, long-term research. These platforms include long-term observational studies, experiments, and cross-site research. Over the past decades, many new studies have taken advantage of the long-term treatments and core data sets from these platform.
Click on each section below for a list of experiments within each platform.
CDR LTER Research Platforms
Grassland Biodiversity (BigBio plots)
Established in 1994 to investigate how biodiversity levels affect ecosystem functions. It consists of 342 planted with 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 grassland species.
Grassland Biodiversity (BigBio plots)
Established in 1994 to investigate how biodiversity levels affect ecosystem functions. It consists of 342 planted with 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 grassland species.e120: Biodiversity II: Effects of Plant Biodiversity on Population and Ecosystem Processes
e244: Natural Enemies, Plant Diversity and Plant Community Composition
e249: BAC: Biodiversity and Climate
e303: BACD (biodiversity and climate with drought): Manipulating Temperature, Rainfall, and Biodiversity)
e306: DroughtNet: Establishing the International Drought Experiment at Cedar Creek tIDE (trait IDE)
Grassland Biodiversity & Global Change (BioCON plots)
Interactions of manipulated levels of carbon dioxide, nitrogen deposition, plant diversity, air and ground temperature, and rainfall are examined in 371 plots, planted in 1997.
Grassland Biodiversity & Global Change (BioCON plots)
Interactions of manipulated levels of carbon dioxide, nitrogen deposition, plant diversity, air and ground temperature, and rainfall are examined in 371 plots, planted in 1997.e141: BioCON: Biodiversity, CO2, and Nitrogen (includesTeraCON plots)
Forest and Biodiversity (FAB experiments)
Over 20,000 individual trees, from 12 species, planted in 2013 and 2016 in two fields are used to examine tree survival, and how tree diversity affects ecosystem functioning.
Forest and Biodiversity (FAB experiments)
Over 20,000 individual trees, from 12 species, planted in 2013 and 2016 in two fields are used to examine tree survival, and how tree diversity affects ecosystem functioning.
Nutrients & Disturbance
The first, and still ongoing, CDR LTER experiments were established in 1982 to examine interactive effects of nitrogen addition and soil disturbance (tilling) on low-fertility grassland ecosystems.
Nutrients & Disturbance
The first, and still ongoing, CDR LTER experiments were established in 1982 to examine interactive effects of nitrogen addition and soil disturbance (tilling) on low-fertility grassland ecosystems.
Savanna Platform
Established in 1964, these large plots distributed across Cedar Creek's examine the effects of long-term prescribed burning treatments on vegetation structure and composition, productivity, and nutrient cycling in oak savanna.
Savanna Platform
Established in 1964, these large plots distributed across Cedar Creek's examine the effects of long-term prescribed burning treatments on vegetation structure and composition, productivity, and nutrient cycling in oak savanna.e133: Effect of Burning Patterns on Vegetation in the Fish Lake Burn Compartments
e145: Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Litter and Soil Decomposition
e169: Causes of change in ectomycorrhizal communities
e321: Assessing the use of bison for savanna restoration at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve