Geographical and Thematic Distribution of Publications Generated at the International Long-Term Ecological Research Network (ILTER) Sites - Earth Stewardship: Linking Ecology and Ethics in Theory and Practice - page 202

Table 13.3 Concepts included in each research thematic category
Event = Things that happen to the biophysical world (event*, disturb*, storm*, damag*,
acidifi *, extrem*)
Location = Spatial (kinds of) location and processes {local*, catchment*, air*, hydrolog*,
sediment*, stream*, fauna*, wetland*, aquat*, adapt*, state*, ground*, stress*, arctic*, alien*}
LTER = Network research, synthesis {network*, shortterm*, workshop*, longterm* studi*,
lter*, ilter*, integr*, review*}
Methods = Theories about and measures of socioecological systems {case* studi*, evid*,
fl ow*, precipit*, map*, regim*, concept*, methodolog*, techniqu*, commun* composit*,
detect*, chang* climat*}
Management = Concepts and policies concerning human actions on the world {theori*,
implic*, project*, establish*, budget*, load*, perspect*, remov*, reduct*, problem*, health*,
histor*, vulner*, pressur*, uncertainti*, reconstruct*, chang* environment*, challeng*,
promot*}
Monitoring = Using measures of the world over time to understand change {natur* regener*,
stabl*, shift*, learn*, sens*, remot* sens*, satellit*, forest* monitor*, recoveri*, paramet*,
regener*, consequ*, eutroph*, assess*, monitor*, carbon* fl ux*}
Scale = Understanding the world across locations {biodivers*, biospher*, food* web*,
gradient*, complex*, global*, transfer*, fl uctuat*}
Stewardship = Human interventions on the world {predict*, strategi*, risk*, futur*, biospher*
reserv*, human*, emiss*, appli*, air* pollut*, crop*, artifi ci*, rural*, plan*, design*, polici*,
district*, framework*, farm*, area* protect*, forestri*, programm*, implement*, social*,
govern*, scheme*, optim*, agricultur* landscap*, econom*, activ* human*, dam*, ecolog*
impact*, chang* impact*, conserv* natur*}
Categories are based on root words common to publication titles and abstracts published by at least
eight national LTER networks (= 20 % of all ILTER member networks), with the exception of the
LTER category which includes the concept LTER appearing in only publications of seven national
LTER networks. This table lists the concepts in each category. The categories as constructed here
as mutually exclusive, and for convenience of analysis. Doubtless, there are many other useful
ways to categorize and interpret this data
Regarding the distribution of research themes within each of the LTER
networks, it is salient that stewardship is the most represented research area in the
Southern Hemisphere. It includes more than 40 % and 20 % of the publications
generated by South Equator (Zone D) and Temperate (Zone E) zones, respectively
(Fig. 13.6 ). In the Northern Hemisphere, stewardship is also well represented in
North Temperate (Zone B). In this zone, management and stewardship combined
account for 40 % of the publications. At ILTER sites in the North Temperate
Zone, broad scale research represents less than 10 % of the research outputs. In
addition, the Arctic (Zone A) is the geographical region that is most concentrated
on local topics, having more than 35 % of its research outputs focused on location.
Hence, broad scale research is better resented in the Southern Hemisphere LTER
networks where it accounts for more than 10 % of the research outputs in zones D
and E (Fig. 13.6 ).