Please consider the seven Doodle Polls below for discussions (caucuses) about research topics being considered for inclusion in the upcoming Hubbard Brook Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) renewal proposal. At our quarterly meeting in April, we identified a variety of topics that could benefit from small group, “caucus” discussions. We are hoping to have seven caucus meetings on different topics, with seven separate Doodle Polls. These are open to all, please respond to as many as you wish.

The caucus discussions will be two hours and will have the following charge/guiding questions:

-          Is there a surprising result that has emerged from our long-term data that motivates new questions that can only be tested with continued long-term data collection?

-          Is there a new integrative synthesis question to organize work in this area?

-          What key data streams do we need to keep monitoring in this area?

-          Is there a new initiative or new data collection needed?

-          Is there a modeling and/or remote sensing component needed for this area?

-          Are there issues related to tipping points, resilience, seasonality, or other cross cutting themes?

-          Keep in mind the conceptual model that underlies current Hubbard Brook research and that we are considering expanding this model to focus on “control points for change.”

Here are the topics and the polls:

1. Spatial and temporal control points for change (Mark Green, leader). For this topic, there is interest in expanding work on the geomorphic template to identify spatial and temporal “control points” of change. This identification should consider terrestrial:aquatic interactions and would be explicitly valley-wide. Other key topics of interest included areas of dynamic nitrogen processing and low soil oxygen. Here is the Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/9e2tw8vt9796xdyf?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

2. Evolution (Winsor Lowe, leader). For this topic, there is interest in exploration of response-effect trait relationships or yield-stress-resource use tradeoffs. What species, or traits win is changing in a warming, flashier, 'pestier' world? Here is the Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/cssx3dasvs4pe9bz?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

3. Vegetation (John Battles, leader). For this topic, there is interesting in research on “global greening”, surprising behaviors of conifers versus hardwood trees, and the emergence of novel communities. Here is the Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/czc2h56nhu8a2u2s?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

4. Hydrology/evapotranspiration (John Campbell, leader). For this topic, there is interesting in research on surprising changes in evapotranspiration and how these might be linked to “global greening”, climate, or vegetation change. Here is the Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/u5zw55tvdvnnt6i2?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

5. Nutrients and the changing carbon cycle (Christy Goodale, leader). For this topic, there is interest in research on how changes in the carbon cycle are influencing nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and availability. Here is the Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/p9iqrr5fivz2kriw?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

6. Biodiversity (bugs, birds, salamanders, microbes) (Matt Ayres, leader). For this topic, there is interest in research on surprising changes in different components of biodiversity and how these might be linked to changes in climate or nutrient dynamics. Here is the Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/rsmnrvnkbaptgbmh?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

7. Education and outreach (Sarah Garlick, leader). For this topic, there is interest in discussion of the relationships among our research program, diversity and inclusion efforts, and our stakeholder/decision-maker/community engagement and science education work. Here is the Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/tkauthkpd2wpyayr?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link