01908nas a2200133   4500008004100000245005700041210005600098300001300154490000600167520148400173100002001657700001601677856008101693       1990                        eng d00aLands for long-term research in conservation biology0 aLands for longterm research in conservation biology  a301 -3080 v43 a<p>Success in conservation biology depends upon a synergistic combination of short-term tactics and long-term strategies. Although the former are often necessary to forestall immediate habitat losses, the latter provide the critical framework of understanding needed to develop effective short-term priorities. Although many conservation biologists now emphasize short-term tactics, prudence dictates the concomitant establishment of long-term research projects aimed at answering fundamental ecological questions. One deterrent to amassing such long-term data bases, aside from time and funding, is a lack of suitable sites where such studies can be conducted on a large scale. We describe two established major land-holding networks in the United States that could serve as appropriate places to develop long-term studies: The National Science Foundation&#39;s Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites, and the U.S. Department of Energy&#39;s National Environmental Research Parks (NERPs). Because they consist of established research facilities, both networks can provide conservation biologists with &quot;low cost&quot; baseline information on ecological processes, as well as acess to a number of representative terrestrail and acquatic habitats under more or less &quot;controlled&quot; conditions suitable for long-term studies. We recommend that conservation biologists explore the possibility of using these or similarly available sites in their research programs</p>1 aBildstein, K.L.1 aBrisbin, J.  uhttp://knz.lternet.edu/content/lands-long-term-research-conservation-biology