THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

Addressing specific research needs in ecological studies, a unique research facility of distributed field research stations has been developed by the University of California. Of the 36 sites in the UC Natural Reserve System (NRS), 17 have been selected for cyberinfrastructure renovation. Most internet connections at the reserves use improvised, low budget, outdated technology. Upgrades would use current broadband technology, compatible across the reserves. Funding would enable deployment of a network of sensors by researchers, transforming data streams to researchers. NRS (UC Office of President) is the academic lead organization for this program and can leverage these funds where a system-wide economy of scale can be exploited. Intellectual merit The UC NRS locations span nearly all of California?s diverse ecosystems. The UC reserves are among the best and most likely places for ongoing and future studies of biota. Over several decades, UC has invested significant resources in land acquisition, facilities improvements, security, internet linkages, staffing and operational funding for the reserves. The University of California?s unique system of natural reserves offers legacies of data, specimens, and accumulated knowledge and promotes convergence of disciplines and cross-fertilization typical of 21st century science (Michener et al. 2009a). Such legacies (Brunt and Michener 2009) often provide the sole framework for documenting and understanding the nature and pace of ecosystem, regional, and global changes in environmental conditions, ecological processes, and biodiversity. Many of today?s pressing scientific questions, including how climate change will affect California?s plant and animal species and the ecosystems that provide essential services (i.e., fresh water), can be ideally pursued across the system of UC reserves. Renovation of this distributed cyberinfrastructure is a first and necessary step to enable transformational science. The absence of this critical infrastructure at many of the sites is a hindrance to comprehensive scientific study. Renovated facilities and data systems proposed here would enable future, improved research into the organism/environment interface. Broader Impact Today?s ecological research environment has dramatically expanded the use of technology to sense the environment. Distributed, networked sensors are at the cutting edge of a broad range of ecological, atmospheric, hydrological, geochemical and climate studies. The UC Natural Reserves are heavily used by every educational level within California, from K-12 up through all units of the state higher education system. They have served as important training centers for students and teachers, and as research platforms for a variety of individuals and organizations concerned with advancing understanding and appreciation of the natural environment. Research and education within the UC Reserve System and at DRI/WRCC are widely publicized, in scholarly journals and books, technical reports, conference proceedings and presentations, and in media ranging from the web to radio, television, documentaries, newspapers, and other forms of dissemination.

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