Field Sites and Sampling Strategy
In order to collect ecological data in a strategic manner, NEON has partitioned the U. S. into 20 eco-climatic domains (see figure below and full site list), each of which represents different regions of vegetation, landforms, climate, and ecosystem performance. Division of the U.S. into domains ensures that NEON is able to systematically sample the U.S. in a design objectively representing environmental variability.
In contrast to earlier maps based on expert knowledge, NEON has designed a set of domains based on a new statistically rigorous analysis using national data sets for eco-climatic variables. The statistical design is based upon algorithms for Multivariate Geographic Clustering (MGC).
Each domain contains one core site (indicated by the red placemarks on the map) selected to represent unmanaged wildland conditions within each domain. Each core site is associated with relocatable sites (indicated by the red dots) to collect data that will focus on human land management effects on ecosystems. Sites may be co-located with an aquatic site (indicated by the blue placemarks) that will collect data on changes to aquatic systems over time and their links with terrestrial systems. VIEW FULL SITE LIST>>
Taken together, the core sites represent a baseline for ecological conditions that can be compared to one another or to the conditions at the relocatable sites. These comparisons at both the domain and national levels will provide critical information that can be used to test ecological models and to identify the impacts of land use change and invasive species on ecology.
Map of domains, core sites and relocatable sites as of October 2011
To download a Google Earth (.kmz) file of this map, click here.
Interactive Site List as of October 2011
The table below contains the current version of the NEON site list. By default, the sites are sorted by the domain in which they will be located. Clicking the up and down arrows next to each column name allows you to sort on any value. You may also choose to how many site to display at a time using the "Show __ entries" control, as well as paging through the list using the controls at the bottom right of the table.
The Search box allows you to search for and select a subset of the site information. Searching by domain name, site type, property owner, etc. is easy—just start typing and the table will immediately change to contain only those sites that contain your search phrase. Do you want to see only Aquatic sites? Just type "aquatic" into the search box. Only want to Domain 3? Enter "Southeast." You can combine searches, too! Searching for "ozarks relocatable" will narrow your results to only the the Relocatable sites in Domain 8.
Once you have your results in the order desired, you can use any of the buttons above the search box to copy your results to the clipboard; save them as a text, spreadsheet, or PDF file; or even print them from your browser. NB: Clicking the "Excel" will generate a compatible csv file.