Jerry Franklin (United States), Matt Bolton (Australia), Patricia Roberts-Pichette (Canada), Chang-Hung Chou (Taiwan), Andy Gordon (Canada), Rudolf Nottrott (United States), John Vande Castle (United States), Danny Walmsley (South Africa), Hen-biau King (Taiwan), Edit Kovacs-Lang (Hungary), Bill Heal (United Kingdom), Zhao Shidong (China), Scott Collins (United States), Gabor Fekete (Hungary), Andras Demeter (Hungary), Valeri Snekov (Russia)
Representatives of the developing International LTER (ILTER) Network met in Budapest, Hungary August 26, 1995 to assess progress toward initial goals of identification, promotion and linkage of LTER efforts around the world, and toward developing a program and infrastructure to facilitate communication and distributed database management among LTER sites internationally. Among the countries or regions represented were Australia, Canada, China, Hungary, United Kingdom, United States, Russia, South Africa and Taiwan.
In discussions of network mission and structure, participants decided to keep the coordinating body small and relatively unstructured, and to change its name from the ILTER Steering Committee to the "ILTER Network Committee." Dr. Jim Gosz (United States) was elected chair, replacing past chair Dr. Jerry Franklin (United States), and Dr. Hen-biau King (Taiwan) was elected vice-chair. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to country reports on the status of long-term ecological research, discussion of funding sources, and the development of a future meetings schedule. A report of the meeting is in preparation.
Future ILTER Network Committee Meetings:
Latin America-1996
Taiwan-1997
China-1998
Africa-1999
United States-2000
Previous meetings if the ILTER Network Committee suggested the
need for computer connectivity. In response to this, a significant
effort at the US LTER Network Office was started to provide these
essential services. These were included as part of the U.S. LTER
Network Office proposal to the National Science Foundation who
awarded a grant for these activities earlier this year.
(John Vande Castle) Results from connectivity efforts planned primarily during previous ILTER Network Committee meetings included a number of advances
ILTER "Home Page": The initial development of
an ILTER World Wide Web "Home Page" has been established
on the main LTER server. This software can be accessed indirectly
through the U.S. LTER home page (http://LTERnet.edu/) or directly
at its own address (http://ILTERnet.edu). This software contains
links to servers of the current ILTER nodes or sites. ILTER
Server: A computer to act as a central "clearing house"
server has just been install at the U.S. LTER Network Office and
is called "ILTERnet.edu". This computer system will
support computer activities for ILTER including electronic mail,
world wide web (WWW) services, file storage, data transfer etc.
This computer system is integrated with the U.S. LTER computer
servers to take advantage of the extensive data storage, high
speed network links etc., which have been developed over the last
7 years. The ILTER server also has a high speed modem (28.8 kilobaud)
which provides dial-up Internet access by a point-to-point (PPP)
link for the mobile "connectivity kit" . Connectivity
kit: A portable connectivity kit was acquired for ILTER work.
This prototype system is able to automatically or manually connect
to the global Internet through a phone call (currently provided
by the ILTER server in Seattle). The "kit" contains
a portable Unix server that provides Internet access, electronic
mail support, WWW support and high-resolution graphics. A number
of portable laptop PC's are connected to the Unix server and directly
share the Internet access for Email, WWW access, file transfer
etc. A high resolution video projection system provides display
for demonstration purposes. The connectivity kit was first demonstrated
during an afternoon workshop as part of the "EUROCO'95"
Congress in Budapest the week prior to this meeting. The connectivity
kit was also demonstrated during this meeting. ILTER email
address/alias: The ILTER server provides Email support for
ILTER activities in a manner similar to that used for U.S. LTER
work. Both individuals and groups can be sent electronic mail
by a simple address scheme of either the group's name, or the
individual's first initial and last name followed by the machine
name. For example Jim Gosz's Email address is "Jgosz@ILTERnet.edu".
The ILTER network committee's email name is "ILTERcom@ILTERnet.edu".
The email alias "ilter@ilternet.edu" is currently used
as an open group for all people interested in information of general
ILTER activities. Further development of the Email alias will
proceed in the future.
ILTER directory:
The development of a complete directory of ILTER sites and researchers has not progressed very far since the initial suggestion for one at previous meetings. Some information already exists such as for the U.S. LTER, site location and personnel of Taiwan LTER sites, and similar information for LTER sites in Japan). Some of the information is contained in WWW ILTER home pages, but no further effort has proceeded to develop the directory. During discussion by committee members, it was suggested that such a directory need is needed, but is not a high priority at the moment. Discussion also suggested that it be developed as a decentralized regional directory where each ILTER node or site maintains its own information.
ILTER Training Workshop in Seattle:
A training workshop was organized and taught by Rudolf Nottrott, U.S. LTER Data and Information Manager, from March 14 24, 1995 at the U.S. LTER Network Office, University of Washington, Seattle. This was a result of the request by the ILTER Steering to train network personnel in setting up and operating regional ILTER information servers. An initial group of technical personnel from China and Taiwan and Malaysia attend the 2week training course at the U.S. LTER Network Office.
The course covered network basics (Internet and LTERnet) as well
as more advanced skills. Participants acquired the technical skills
of configuring, compiling, and installing an information server
on the World Wide Web. Participants also began work on composing
the content of their own network Information servers. During the
second week of the course participants learned some advanced server
setup techniques to enable information access through interactive
maps and text searches. They constructed a basic Web home pages
with links to site and personnel information. These will be expanded
in their regional servers for personnel directories, catalogs
and graphic interactive access to site servers.
Further actions upon return of the participants to their home institutions included to prepare:
The ILTER information server (ilternet.edu) at the U.S. LTER Network
is available to host regional servers until they have established
the necessary network infrastructure to host the server in their
own institutions. This was initially done for the TERN server,
which now is directly available from http://tpsrv.seed.net.tw/~fushan.
ILTER Global Communication Workshop in Taiwan:
(Rudolf Nottrott) A workshop on "Global Communication
and Connectivity" was held at Taiwan National University,
April 13, 1995 during the Regional SE Asia ILTER Conference. The
workshop was organized by Rudolf Nottrott and John Vande Castle,
U.S. LTER Network Office, Teng-Chiu Lin, Fu-Shan TERN Site, Jen-Jiun
Perng, Nan-Jen-Shan TERN. Twenty-three researchers from Taiwan,
Australia, Japan, Mongolia and the U.S. participated in the workshop.
Introductory talks covered basic network functions (Communication,
Information Sharing, Remote Computing, Resource Sharing, Intersite
Research, Use of the Internet by Sites), and then viewed demonstrations
of advanced network functions (Remote Connections, Text Information
Servers (Gopher), PC-based Gopher Clients, Hypertext Network Access
Systems (Mosaic, etc.), X-Window-based Network Access (GIS Data
Access and Sun Photometer data at U.S. LTER Sites). As a case
study, participants had a close look at the LTERnet system for
communication and data exchange developed by the U.S. LTER Network
(Electronic Supplementation of Intersite Research, Connectivity
Options, information searches, data exchange). Participants also
examined other existing ILTER Information Servers on the Internet,
and
Recommendations and action items proposed by the workshop participants
are to:
(John Vande Castle) Two representatives of the U.S. LTER Network
(Rudolf Nottrott, Data and Information Manager, and John Vande
Castle, Network Manager) visited ERIN in Canberra, from February
1014, and the Forestry Department of Tasmania, Hobart, from
February 1517 this year. They met with representatives of
governmental, academic and private research organizations regarding
collaborative work, and more specifically in the establishment
of electronic communication facilities for researchers focused
on long-term ecological research. Although informal links exist,
and there is good cooperation among scientists on a one to one
basis (often through the Internet), there is no established electronic
network which includes the primary functions that are proposed
by ILTER During meetings with Australian scientists, there were
great interests in ILTER efforts. Every person contacted was interested
in the efforts to facilitate communication between scientists
interested in long-term ecological research. Australia has a number
of wellknown LTER sites and projects, including Koonamore,
the Bogong High Plains site and the Wog Wog experimental site.
The Ecological Society of Australia is currently compiling a database
of such sites. A consensus was widespread that there exists an
invaluable but largely untapped resource in the form of data and
information collected at various longterm ecological research
and monitoring sites in Australia. The directory being compiled
will be enormously useful to ecological researchers and decision
makers alike, and would fill a notable gap in the environmental
information presently provided by ERIN. This directory would also
be a core element of a regional ILTER home page. This information
would be useful to the ILTER network. In the discussions at ERIN
participants assessed the present status of information available
on Australian LTER sites and projects, discussed the utility of
an Australian ILTER information server for the Australian research
community and policy/decision makers, and explored implementation
options for a regional server. The regional server maintained
by ERIN would function as a central Australian contact and point
to other Australian LTER sites/nodes. This server would be linked
to the common ILTER server though the ILTER WWW home page. A draft
letter of understanding between ILTER and ERIN has recently been
exchanged to formalize the work
(Rudolf Nottrott)
Summary of the presentation by R. Nottrott to the ILTER Steering
Committee on possibilities for a Regional ILTER Information Server
in Central America: R. Nottrott (U.S. LTER Network Office) and
J. Porter (Virginia Coast LTER Site) visited the Organizacion
para Estudios Tropicales (OTS), Costa Rica, and the Instituto
Smithsonian de Investigaciones Tropicales (STRI), Panama. The
purpose of the visit was to discuss the ways of establishing an
ILTER information server for the Central American region at one
or both of these organizations.
Nottrott and Porter met a number of key research and administrative
personnel at OTS, including Chuck Schnell, OTS Associate Executive
Director, Dr. Eduardo Sibaja, Minister of Science & Technology
of Costa Rica, Belford Gomez, Engineering Director of Telecom
Costa Rica, Guy de Teramond, University of Costa Rica CRNet Representative
(CRNet is Costa Rica's Internet backbone) Henry Salazar, OTS network
administrator, Dr. Rodrigo Gomez, INBIO San Jose and Bruce Young,
Director of Las Selva Field Station.
OTS is a unique scientific and educational consortium, consisting
of more than 50 universities and research institutions in Latin
America and the U.S. OTS also administers three biological field
stations in Costa Rica (Las Selva, Las Cruces, Palo Verde). Since
OTS functions as a network of research facilities across a wide
range of tropical conditions, it has the potential to function
as an essential part of the ILTER network in the Central American
region.
A digital backbone for Internet communication was established
in Costa Rica in 1993. This backbone, called CRnet, connects major
institutions in Costa Rica. CRnet is analogous to the original
NSFnet backbone established in the U.S. in 1986 and is likely
to have a similar catalyzing effect on the information infrastructure
in Costa Rica. CRnet is linked to the global Internet through
a direct link to the U.S. CRNet now connects over 20 institutions
and 1000 computer hosts. OTS has been working with Guy de Teramont
and Belford Gomez and is part of this infrastructure. Plans exist
to connect the three OTS field stations to the nearest CRnet node
(La SelvaGuappiles is shortly becoming operational, Las
CrucesSanbito, Palo VerdeGuancasta.
As a result of the ILTER visit, Henry Salazar has been working
with Belford Gomez and CRnet to get a network router in place
for the La Selva connection. Once this is completed, Las Selva
will be the first field station in Costa Rica with a direct Internet
connection. Henry is also working with Chuck Schnell and other
OTS personnel on developing an information server on the Internet
(a template was created during the ILTER visit). People at OTS
now realize that the results of this effort will be just as important
to OTS as they are to the ILTER network. The main challenge is
to summarize the wealth of information on projects, personnel,
databases and convert it to electronic form. OTS will explore
collaboration with STRI in their efforts to establish a regional
ILTER information server in Central America.
At the Instituto Smithsonian de Investigaciones Tropicales (Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute, STRI), Panama, Nottrott and Porter
met with Ira Rubinoff, Director of STRI, Anthony Coates, Deputy
Director of STRI, Francisco Rivera, STRI computer and network
systems administrator, Karl Kauffman, Marine ESP Data Manager,
Richard Condit, CTFS Coordinator (Center for Tropical Forest Science),
Joe Wright, Staff Scientist and Steve Paton, data manager. Discussions
on the ILTER efforts to create regional information servers covered
essentially the same subjects as our talks at OTS. OTS has an
impressive array of research projects. Data and information on
these projects in tropical Forest Science (including canopy studies),
Marine Sciences, Human Ecology and other research areas would
be of great value to the ILTER community.
Presently STRI is linked to the Internet through a low speed (56
KBit/s) connection to Homestead, Florida which also provides phone
service. The capacity of the dedicated STRI link is planned to
be doubled in the near future. There is a network backbone in
Panama (RAP Rapid Academic Network), but this connects
through Costa Rica and capacity is very low. The Internet infrastructure
in Panama is expected to improve rapidly in the coming year(s)
as commercial enterprises develop backbone capacity, connections
to the global Internet and connectivity services in the country
ILTER interactions with Czech Republic (Jim Gosz)
Funding from International Programs at NSF allowed a team of U.S.
LTER scientists to visit a number of sites in the Czech Republic
on June 1017, 1995. The U.S. scientists were James R. Gosz,
chair, Network Office, Fred Benfield, Coweeta LTER, Bill Bowman,
Niwot LTER, John Helly, San Diego SuperComputer Center, Chris
Johnson, Hubbard Brook LTER, Steve Macko, Virginia Coast Reserve
LTER, and Bob Parmenter, Sevilleta LTER. Three potential LTER
sites were visited: Krkonossky Narodni Park, Sumava National Park
and Krivoklatsko Biosphere Reserve. The funding from NSF also
will allow a visit of Czech scientists to U.S. LTER sites. This
will occur Sept. 18 23 and involve the North Temperate
Lakes, Hubbard Brook, Coweeta, Niwot and Sevilleta LTER sites.
A final summary meeting will occur with NSF on Sept. 23 to identify
future activities.
The U.S. scientists were pleased with the potential for research
at the various sites visited and the enthusiasm of the Czech scientists.
There are many excellent publications and valuable data sets for
many of the sites but additional work is needed on computerization
and modeling efforts. The general areas of computational biology/ecology
ranging from information management and GIS technologies to advanced
computation and simulation modeling are areas where the U.S. LTER
program can assist. The Czech sites have valuable attributes ranging
from humanmanipulated systems for many centuries to undisturbed
ecosystems. There are many sites that would make good comparisons
with U.S. LTER and other country LTER sites (twinning of sites).
There are already many good ideas for research proposals.
(Jim Gosz)
An initial trip to Spain and Portugal was made by James Gosz,
U.S. LTER Network Chairman in March, 1995 for the purpose of interacting
with several groups and presenting information on the International
Long Term Ecological Research program. As a result of very favorable
responses, funding was received from the National Science Foundation
(International Programs) to allow site visits in Spain, Portugal
and Morocco in the spring of 1996. This will involve a team of
LTER scientists that will visit a number of potential Long Term
research sites and interact with scientists in those countries.
This will be followed by a visit of scientists from the Iberian
Peninsula to LTER sites in the U.S. and the potential development
of collaborative research projects.
New Language for Mission Statement:
The committee discussed updated wording to the ILTER Mission statement
to better reflect the changes that have occurred in the ILTER
Network over the last few years. Although the following consensus
was reached, Jerry Franklin and Jim Gosz said they would sit down
at a later date to do further work on the wording.
Discussion by the steering committee suggested that the initial
minutes of the ILTER report be rewritten to reflect the changes
that have occurred in ILTER since its start. The individual summary
reports will be used, or additional writing once the publication
is compiled.
Discussion of the structure of the steering committee. Jerry suggested that each participating network have a representative on the committee. This would form a committee of the whole. Zhao suggested that the representatives be from the various networks rather than representing a country. Andy suggested we look more long-term and perhaps plan for future meetings
Discussion of associations with related international groups included
suggestions for ILTER letters of support for ILTER related workshop
development in the European Commission International Arctic Science
Committee (IASC) GTOS:
Bill Heal proposed initiatives to contact Sten Struwe of the EC
which were supported by the Steering Committee. Bill will draft
a formal letter to be signed by the ILTER chair and countersigned
by Bill and Edit. Danny suggested that Africa be included in this,
and it was suggested that both be included. Bill also proposed
a letter of support to IASC, signed by the LTER chair which was
concurred by the Committee, with the suggestion that the letter
be sent to the appropriate party(ies) after checking to find who
that would be. Bill also presented information on the status of
GTOS and the current structure. The report of the planning group
will go out for peer review in September. Funding for GTOS will
come from UNEP, UNESCO, FAO, WMO and ICSU. A letter of support
to David Norse from the chair was agreed to be the committee.
These letters have been forward by Bill Heal to Jim Gosz.
Bill Heal - It is important to use existing networks, coordinated
through a coordinating office. It is important to determine key
networks that exist and link them. This means not only existing
international networks, but also to link international groups
such as ITEX - International tundra experiment (8 years) TSBF
program. Andy Gordon suggested that more outreach is needed to
advertise what ILTER is trying to do. D. Walmsely suggested that
better communication is needed for ILTER, especially regarding
the steering committee meeting. Zhao pointed out the focus of
the individual network was important, such as the ecosystem approach
for CERN. Andy also pointed out the need to account for differing
focus and agendas of different network - including those within
countries. Zhao pointed out importance of the use of the Internet
for communication, and use of the WWW for access to information.
Jim Gosz echoed this with the need to use, and promote the use
of communication systems that exist, since this is currently not
being used. Patricia suggested that data sharing will be important
as well as the importance of the network of networks concepts
for linkages. Patricia pointed out that it is critical that reports
of meetings such as the ILTER steering committee meeting are put
out on the WWW in a timely manner. Matt Bolton pointed out a need
for internal "steering committees" to coordinated regional
ILTER work. He also echoed, with the addition of a comment from
Andy, for the need to use WWW to get information out, and for
each regional network to contain pointers to the various internal
networks. Hen B. King pointed out that more rather than less structure
is needed within ILTER to help unite, stimulate and develop LTER
activities. Scott Collins pointed out that the networking activities
for international research currently being supported may be a
short window of opportunities, and it will be important to look
into other sources to help with this such as the EC. Danny also
pointed out that the ILTER effort must provide a service to initiate
activities. Jerry suggested that purposes of ILTER include the
stimulation of LTER research as well as focused activity to support
long-term ecological research.
Further discussion: Who does ILTER need to work with in identifying participants? A focus on Latin America, although perhaps not all of Latin America in 1996, and Africa in 1997. This effort need not be a single workshop, but rather this could be a more iterative approach. Danny suggested that ILTER should not wait until 1999 to do something, but get started and plan for a major activity in 1998. Matt Bolton pointed out the "Southern Connections" meeting - perhaps a meeting in 1997 - again linkages of Australian work with new African linkages. Bill Heal also pointed out a need for European follow-up. Russian follow-up is also needed. Regional workshops - for example a National Canadian meeting on data management in Halifax Jan 17-20, 1996 - perhaps representatives from LTER data management groups could participate.
Arctic/Boreal - Canada, USA, Russia - and links with Northern Sciences Network. As a point, long-term programs and databases, particularly in Russia and Canada are at risk of loss - this could be included in ILTER activities.
ILTER Network Workshop program - to provide a focus for ILTER efforts, and to provide a wider involvement. For example in 1995 the connectivity kit was used as a focus for the workshop on international connectivity at the Euroco'95 congress in Hungary.
Association with regional meetings: for instance START may provide some of the regional linkages that are needed. ILTER needs to be cognizant of START and needs to communicate with them. Coordination with NSF is also needed, so that efforts aren't duplicated, and ILTER efforts can work with existing programs.
Discussion results - to catalyze the development of regional networks.
Initial plan for Africa and Latin America. (Communication with
START) - Link with IAI program - for instance computer connectivity
work on the technical level, and research programs could also
be made. Four people have identified themselves in the initial
ILTER report, and need to be contacted regarding IAI activities.
Taiwan meeting in 1997, and in 1998 a major symposium in China
regarding the end of the World Bank project with CERN.
ILTER Network Workshop Program - to include ILTER Network Committee meeting (tentative) These meetings would not preclude other meetings such as other ILTER related workshops.
1996 - Poland and Slovakia, June (visit by US scientists), Japan, September (2nd Regional SE Asian LTER Conference), Costa Rica, November(ILTER),
1997 - Chile, February (ILTER meeting with Southern Connections meeting), Taiwan October, (IUBS meeting on Biological Science in the 21st Century)
1998- South Africa, February (ILTER meeting and workshop), China, September (culmination of World Bank Funding for CERN)
1999 - Canada (ILTER meeting)
2000 - USA (20th anniversary of the U.S. LTER program).
In further discussion, it was suggested that the group be kept
small with as little structure as possible. The ILTER Network
Committee will more formally call itself the Committee of Affiliated
Networks of Long Term Ecological Research sites. The committee
is made up of a representative from each affiliated network. The
ILTER Network Committee voted unanimously to have Jim Gosz as
chair, Hen-biau King as vice chair and Franklin as past chair.
United States LTER status:
James Gosz, Chair of the U.S. LTER Network reported on the status
of the U.S. LTER efforts. Funding difficulties are affecting many
research efforts in many agencies in the U.S. The National Science
Foundation may not be affected as much as some agencies but some
cuts will probably be made. The LTER program has been told that
its funding will remain constant for the next several years which
some assurance that the program is important in the eyes of the
National Science Foundation. Other positive signs are that the
two sites that received additional funds to develop regional scale
research efforts will continue to receive that augmentation. This
is a direction that NSF views as important for the LTER program
and the success of these two sites will aid future funding for
the other sites.
NSF announced that there would be an open competition for the
Network Office of the LTER Network at the end of the year. International
interactions and the development of the ILTER remain major activities
to be carried out by the Network Office as well as the continued
infusion of new technologies into LTER site research programs.
These technologies also will be of value to ILTER research programs.
International Programs at NSF continues to be a source of funds
for the development of ILTER. Much of the funding for international
travel, workshops and training is the result of awards from International
Programs. The Network Office anticipates that future international
work will be enhanced through this source of funding.
The U.S. LTER Network has initiated discussions with a number of book publishers to develop a number of book series on LTER site research, comparisons and syntheses. This also will allow opportunities for publishing books for international LTER comparisons and syntheses.
A major effort is taking place to develop a U.S. LTER Network
Information System (IMS). This would make data more available
from all sites in the network or allow more general queries to
be made for data on questions that require data from many sites.
The data managers from all sites are developing protocols for
metadata and the standardization that will be required for this
Network IMS. Implementation of a Network IMS was a major point
of discussion at the 1995 U.S. LTER Data/Information managers
meeting.
(Jim Gosz): The past site visits and interactions with Hungary
and the Czech Republic and the future visits and interactions
with Poland, Slovak Republic, Portugal and Spain may allow an
integrated Regional ILTER effort for Central Europe. The East
Asian Regional ILTER effort (see previous section) is a good example
of the interactions that could develop in Central Europe. The
ILTER Network Committee intends to work toward that end by requesting
funds from the European Commission (TERI) to develop a workshop
that develops the ILTER philosophy and ideas. A letter requesting
a meeting will be sent from the ILTER Chairman and cosigned by
representatives from Central European countries. The meeting would
be for the purpose of developing funding for the workshop in the
spring in 1996 that could lead to the development of ILTER activities
in the EC funding schedule for 1999.
Matt Bolton from the Australian Environmental Resources Information
Network, provided information on ERIN/ILTER interactions. This
included information from ILTER Committee member Michael Brown
who compiled information in a paper
originally prepared for the "First ILTER Conference - East
Asia and Pacific Region" which was held in Taiwan in 1995.
Danny Walmsley (South Africa) presented information on the interests
and status of LTER research. His report is provided in his paper
which can be accessed here.