Ecology

The nation’s forest and grassland ecosystems play key roles in mitigating climate change, sustaining biodiversity, supplying clean water and air, and meeting our needs for food, fiber, and fuel. Ecology is the interdisciplinary study of the relationships among populations of organisms and  habitats and the flows of energy, nutrients, and other resources. This area of science is fundamental for developing an improved understanding of ecosystem function and enhanced tools and techniques to restore and conserve our nation’s forest and grassland ecosystems.

Northern Research Station (NRS) scientists and research technicians collect long-term data on ecosystem structure, function, and status and track trends in key ecosystem processes. Their work on developing techniques for simulating ecological processes and predicting outcomes and new approaches to restoring and maintaining ecosystems serves land managers across the region and beyond.