THE CHINESE ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH NETWORK

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The chinese ecological research network

The Chinese Ecological Research Network (CERN),proposed by theChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1987 and authorized by Chinese Government in1991, is a comprehensive research network syStem of linking established ecological andenvironmental observation and experiment stations located at different natural zonesacross China. The characteristics of CERN are as follows: 1) CERN is aninterdisciplinary and comprehensive research network; 2) CERN will focus on the studies on the trends of changes in structures and functions of ecosystems under the strongactions of human activities, 3) CERN will predict macro-ecological environmentalproblems caused by human activities. CERN includes three levels, i.e. ecological research stations subcenters and synthetic centers, and four supPOrt systems, i.e. researchsystem and management system. The ecological research stations are the basic units ofCERN to make the long-term monitoring for ecological and environmental elements,and also the bodies to conduct comprehensive studies on struCtures and functions of ecosystems. At present, CERN has 52 research stations, among which 26 are agricultural ecological stations, 13 forest ecological stations, 5 grassland ecological stations, and 8lake and sea stations. The subcenters are nodes of CERN. Four subcenters are plannedat the present stage. They are Hydrological subcenter, Soil subcenter, Atmosphericsubcenter and Biological subcenter. The Synthetic Center Plays the role of the pivot ofthe nctwork.