Small streams important in controllin...( a number of papers were published about...)

a number of papers were published about each site, but it has taken since 1998 to synthesize the data from about 1,500 samples per stream for the 12 streams. "It is the first and largest coordinated data set for stream ecosystems," says Valett. The article in Science reports on the rates of nitrogen uptake, storage, regeneration, and export in headwater streams.The focus was the free mineral form of nitrogen, specifically nitrate (NO3) and ammonium (NH4).

"This was a most gratifying project because of the enthusiastic involvement of many of the top stream ecologists from around the United States who shared ideas and data unselfishly," says Mulholland, the project leader. "I think it is an excellent model for how inter-site, multi-investigator research can and should be done to address some of the most fundamental environmental issues facing us today. It was rewarding and it was fun."

"The collaboration was key," agrees Webster. "That was one of this project's strengths. There were about 30 investigators from 10 programs, plus many graduate and undergraduate students, who helped with the field work."

Several researchers involved in this research are now working on a project to better understand the denitrification process and are studying nitrogen dynamics in more detail at three of the 12 streams. Mullholland, of Oak Ridge National Lab, is leading the effort to obtain funding for another large N15 tracer project, involving about 20 scientists and a total of 72 streams (nine at each of eight sites). "The original streams were located in relatively pristine areas -- primarily national forests, some nature preserves and reservations. Next we would like to include streams in agricultural and urban landscapes" Webster says.

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Contact: Bruce Peterson
peterson@mbl.edu
508-289-7484
Virginia Tech
5-Apr-2001

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