SUPPORTING BASIC ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN U.S. NATIONAL PARKS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

摘要: The long-term preservation of national park ecosystems requires scientific knowledge about populations, communities, and the ecological processes upon which sus- tainable depend. Unfortunately, parks in United States have a well- documented history indifference, if not hostility, to support basic research. Nu- merous external reviews criticized lack institutional for science, blaming it large part on traditional emphasis National Park Service (NPS) scenery tourism management. However, recent efforts improve science U.S. been most encouraging. These include long-sought Con- gressional mandate research, major budget initiative un- derstanding management resources as well research facilities, leadership establishment network university-based cooperative units, successful partnering with private organizations innovative programs fund Ph.D. students, postdocs, sabbaticals parks. success na- tional preserving natural depends, part, NPS's ability provide that is necessary understand effects human activities.