Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve

The Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is an ecological research site located primarily in East Bethel, Minnesota in the counties of Anoka and Isanti on the northern edge of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. Encompassing 5,400 acres (22 km2) of native upland forests and prairie and lowland swamps and meadows, the site contains over 900 plots of long-term experimental research which evaluate plant competition and biodiversity. The herbivory research division examines animal and plant relationships.[1] Led by prominent American ecologist G. David Tilman, the University schedules more than 130 faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, staff, and undergraduate researcher interns to the site as of 2006.[2]

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
View of Cedar Bog Lake with experimental plots in the rear
LocationEast Bethel, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates45°24′7.29″N 93°11′57.85″W
Area5,600 acres (23 km2)
Established1942
Governing bodyCollege of Biological Sciences
WebsiteOfficial website
DesignatedJune 1975

Established in 1942 by the University of Minnesota, the site was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1975 and 1980 under the Historic Sites Act.[3][4] It received this designation in May 1975 from the United States Secretary of the Interior, giving it recognition as an outstanding example of the nation's natural history.[5] The designation describes it as a

Relatively undisturbed area where three biomes meet (tall grass prairie, eastern deciduous forest and boreal coniferous forest), supporting 61 species of mammals and 259 species of birds.[6] A nationally and internationally famous research center.[3]

It was later designated by the National Science Foundation as a Long Term Ecological Research site in 1982.[7] Minnesota ecologists purchased land parcels through 1929 until the University's acquisition in 1940. The site is currently operated by the University's College of Biological Sciences in cooperation with the Minnesota Academy of Science.[8][9]

Often considered to be the birthplace of the modern science of ecosystem ecology, the research site tested the first radio collars for animal tracking in the 1960s and developed prescribed burning techniques for savannas.[1][10][11] The claim is attributed to limnologist Raymond Lindeman (1915-1942) who performed his PhD research on the ecological dynamics of Cedar Bog Lake located in the reserve. Linking Sir Arthur Tansley's coined term "ecosystem" to field research, his studies were influential in forming modern ecosystem ecology.[12]

Originally the site was officially designated the Cedar Creek Forest which takes its name for Cedar Creek that winds through East Bethel. The bog where the site initially began was informally called by professors "Decodon Bog."[9] The site was known as Cedar Creek Natural History Area until its change in 2007.[13]

Several citizen science programs are located at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, including a Zooniverse project.[14]

References
  1. Cedar Creek Natural History Area. "About Cedar Creek Natural History Area". University of Minnesota.
  2. "Cedar Creek Natural History Area: Science and Outreach/Housing". U of M Capital Planning and Project Management. 2008-05-19. Archived from the original on 2008-07-08.
  3. "Cedar Creek Natural History Area - Allison Savanna". NNL Guide-Minnesota. National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  4. McConagha, Al (March 18, 1980). "4 state areas named Natural Landmarks". Star Tribune. p. 22.
  5. "Overview, National Natural Landmarks". Nature & Science. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  6. http://cedarcreek.umn.edu/florafauna
  7. "LTER Sites - Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve". Long Term Ecological Research Network. 2004.
  8. "Counting the Blessings of Biodiversity". National Science Foundation. 2008.
  9. "Background Events, Early Use & Development (1929-1947)". Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. 2008-05-16. Archived from the original on 2010-06-22.
  10. Jennifer Amie (2007-04-11). "Hide & Seek: Trailing Squirrels with Radio Telemetry". IMPRINT Magazine, Bell Museum. Archived from the original on 2008-10-13.
  11. Lansing Shepard (September 2005). "A Place Apart, Cedar Creek Natural History Area - For 75 years, this ecological research site has been yielding insights into how the natural world works". Minnesota Conservation Volunteer. Archived from the original on 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
  12. Andrew Crober (June 1999). "The Ecosystem Approach to Ecosystem Management" (PDF). University of Waterloo. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-01-05.
  13. Deane Morrison (June 9, 2008). "New digs at Cedar Creek The U's Cedar Creek facility gets new name, new labs".
  14. "Citizen Science Projects". Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve.
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