Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve

Geobox|Protected area
name = Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
category = National Natural Landmark
category_iucn = IV

---

image_caption = View of Cedar Bog Lake with experimental plots in the rear
country = United States
state = Minnesota
state_type = State
region_type = Counties
region = Anoka
region1 = Isanti
city_type = City
city = East Bethel
lat_d = 45
lat_m = 24
lat_s = 31
lat_NS = N
long_d = 93
long_m = 12
long_s = 03
long_EW = W
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 5400
area_round = 1
established = 1975
map_locator = Minnesota


governing_body = University of Minnesota Regents
management_body = College of Biological Sciences
website = http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/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 convert|5400|acre|km2 of native upland forests and prairie and lowland swamps and meadows, the site contains over 900 plots of long-term experimental gardens which evaluate plant competition and biodiversity. The herbivory research division examines animal and plant relationships.cite web|title=About Cedar Creek Natural History Area|url=http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/about/|date=May 16, 200|publisher=University of Minnesota|author=Cedar Creek Natural History Area] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.cppm.umn.edu/projects/cedar_creek/cedarcreek.html|title=Cedar Creek Natural History Area: Science and Outreach/Housing|publisher=U of M Capital Planning and Project Management|date=2008-05-19]

Established in 1940 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.cite web | title = Cedar Creek Natural History Area - Allison Savanna | work = NNL Guide-Minnesota | publisher = National Park Service | url = http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/Registry/USA_Map/States/Minnesota/NNL/CC/index.cfm | accessdate = 2008-09-26 ] 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. [cite web | title = Overview, National Natural Landmarks | work = Nature & Science | publisher = National Park Service | url = http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/ | accessdate = 2008-09-26] 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 183 species of birds. A nationally and internationally famous research center.

It was later designated by the National Science Foundation as a Long Term Ecological Research site in 1982. [cite web|url=http://www.lternet.edu/sites/cdr/|title=LTER Sites - Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve|publisher=Long Term Ecological Research Network|date=2004] 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.cite web|title=Counting the Blessings of Biodiversity|url=http://www.nsf.gov/about/history/nsf0050/environment/blessings.htm|date=2008(?)|publisher=National Science Foundation] cite web|url=http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/about/history/historylong.shtml|title=Background Events, Early Use & Development (1929-1947)|date=2008-05-16|publisher=Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve]

Represented as the birthplace of the modern science of ecosystem ecology, the research site tested the first radio collars for animal tracking in the 1950s and developed prescribed burning techniques for savannas. [cite web|url=http://www.bellmuseum.org/imprint/radio_squirrels.htm|title=Hide & Seek: Trailing Squirrels with Radio Telemetry|date=2007-04-11|author=by Jennifer Amie|publisher=IMPRINT Magazine, Bell Museum] [cite web|url=http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/julaug05/placeapart.html|title=A Place Apart, Cedar Creek Natural History Area - For more than 60 years, this ecological research site has been yielding insights into how the natural world works.|author=By Lansing Shepard|publisher=Minnesota Conservation Volunteer|date=2005-09] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.nesh.ca/jameskay/ersserver.uwaterloo.ca/jjkay/undergrad/crobe/ecomgmt.pdf|page=7|title=The Ecosystem Approach to Ecosystem Management|author=Andrew Crober|date=June 1999|publisher=University of Waterloo]

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." The site was known as "Cedar Creek Natural History Area" until its change in 2007. [cite web|url=http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories2/New_digs_at_Cedar_Creek.html#|title=New digs at Cedar Creek The U's Cedar Creek facility gets new name, new labs|author=By Deane Morrison|date=June 9, 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve]
* [http://www.lternet.edu/sites/cdr/ Long Term Ecological Research: Cedar Creek (CDR)]