Forest and Freshwater Ecosystem Responses to Climate Change and Variability at US LTER Sites

Abstract Forest and freshwater ecosystems are tightly linked together provide important ecosystem services, but climate change is affecting their species composition, structure, function. Research at nine US Long Term Ecological sites reveals complex interactions cascading effects of change, some which feed back into the system. Air temperature has increased all sites, those in Northeast have become wetter, whereas Northwest Alaska slightly drier. These changes altered streamflow affected processes, including primary production, carbon storage, water nutrient cycling, community dynamics. At direct dominant driver altering ecosystems, other indirect or disturbances stressors unrelated to more important. Long-term studies critical for understanding impacts on forest ecosystems.