Watershed studies at Harvard Forest focus on headwater streams and the linkages between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Research questions include:
- How are streams and wetlands connected to the ground water system?
- How are diurnal and synoptic variations in stream biogeochemistry related to terrestrial processes and to storm events?
- How will aquatic organisms respond to the conversion of hemlock forests to hardwoods?
- How will drinking water quality and quantity be affected by long-term changes in climate and land use?
Future plans call for real-time integration of meteorological (precipitation, snow pack), hydrological (stream discharge, soil moisture, ground water), and eddy flux (evapotranspiration) measurements to study how water moves through the forest ecosystem over a range of temporal scales.
In addition to researchers listed below, numerous students and teachers collect and contribute watershed data via Schoolyard Ecology vernal pool lessons.
Associated Researchers
- Robinson (Wally) Fulweiler (Boston University)
- William Sobczak (College of the Holy Cross)
Related Highlights
Related Data & Publications
- Publications – Published papers from Harvard Forest research related to watershed ecology.
- Datasets – Data and metadata for watershed ecology research at the Forest.
- Abstracts for Current Research – Summaries of ongoing watershed ecology research at the Forest.