A resource devoted to the use of a long term field experiment
at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Sponsored by the
National Science Foundation, the field experiment is utilized
by successive classes of students enrolled in environmental courses
at SIUC. Many of these students are following an Environmental
Studies Program for their minor, others are life science majors,
or future science teachers (Elementary, Middle or High School).
The experiment addresses specific ecological concepts and allows
students across a range of academic levels to collect a variety
of types of data. The Long-Term Experiment is designed to address
topics under the general concept of ecological succession. Short-term
experiments (duration less than one semester) are conducted by
students within the long-term experimental plots. Thus, the long-term
experiment provides the context and framework for additional
short-term experiments.
Important Note: The funding and activities associated with
this project were completed in 2002. These pages are maintained
as a resource although much of the information is now out of
date. The lowland field plots have not been maintained. The upland
field plots at Touch of Nature are being maintained and are being
used for research and as part of a new NSF sponsored project,
The Heartland Ecological/Environmental Academic Research Training
GK-12 (HEART GK12)
program.
This project was supported, in part, by the National Science
Foundation.
Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily
those of the Foundation.