Meeting Abstract

P3-50   -   Research Opportunities Through NEON and the Assignable Asset Program Ritz, CR; Paull, SH*; National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), Battelle; National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), Battelle critz@battelleecology.org

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is an NSF-funded continental-scale observatory that provides long-term, open access ecological data collected with a standardized framework. Over 180 data products representing data collected via remote sensing, automated instruments and observational field collection are provided in an open access format across 47 terrestrial and 34 aquatic sites. At terrestrial sites, data on diversity and abundance are collected on a variety of animals, plants and microbes, with phenology and pathogen infection data also available for a subset of organisms. NEON data and resources offer ecological context for cross-scale analyses of ecological patterns spanning from genomes to communities. NEON also has a unique Assignable Asset Program that allows funded PIs to request access to NEON infrastructure, field ecologist labor and site coordination in a cost-recoverable framework. Assignable Assets included Observational Sampling Infrastructure (OSI), Mobile Deployment Platform (MDP), Sensor Infrastructure (SI) and remote sensing capacity of the Airborne Observation Platform (AOP). OSI can be used by investigators requesting additional sampling by NEON’s field ecologists to support projects occurring at NEON sites. The MDP is a mobile set of sensors and data loggers that measure atmospheric, soil and aquatic properties. The SI can be customized by investigators to add sensors to existing NEON Sensor Infrastructure. Adjustments to the flight locations or frequencies of the AOP can also be requested.