A Tale of Two Lakes: One Gives Early Warning Signal for Ecosystem Collapse

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=119359&org=NSF&from=news

Press Release 11-086

A Tale of Two Lakes: One Gives Early Warning Signal for Ecosystem Collapse

First experimental evidence that radical ecosystem change can be detected in advance

April 28, 2011

Researchers eavesdropping on complex signals from a remote Wisconsin lake have detected what they say is an unmistakable warning--a death knell--of the impending collapse of the lake's aquatic ecosystem.

The finding, reported today in the journal Science by a team of researchers led by Stephen Carpenter, an ecologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), is the first experimental evidence that radical change in an ecosystem can be detected in advance, possibly in time to prevent ecological catastrophe.

"For a long time, ecologists thought these changes couldn't be predicted," says Carpenter. "But we've now shown that they can be foreseen. The early warning is clear. It is a strong signal."

The implications of the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported study are big, says Carpenter.

"This research shows that, with careful monitoring, we can foresee shifts in the structure of ecosystems despite their complexity," agrees Alan Tessier, program director in NSF's Division of Environmental Biology. "The results point the way for ecosystem management to become a predictive science."

…

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2011/04/27/science.1203672.abstract

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Turbineguy]

2. Luckily the GOP has a plan to address this.

Defund NSF.

It's only a problem if you find out about it. These NSF people are notorious problem finders. No NSF, no problems!

[999998th word]

3. K+R

Sad but true ,Turbineguy.

[mochajava666]

4. You are right. I used to work for this project, but quit 6 months ago

due to my lack of confidence about future funding for the program. The NSF really liked the program, but it is all up to priorities and politics when funding gets cut.

I hope this publicity will enhance their chances to remain funded. They are good people that work very hard for little money.