Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
Encyclopedia
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 5400 acres (21.9 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. 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.
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
. 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. The designation describes it as a
It was later designated by the National Science Foundation
as a Long Term Ecological Research
site in 1982. 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.
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. 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.
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.
Ecosystem ecology
Ecosystem ecology is the integrated study of biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems and their interactions within an ecosystem framework. This science examines how ecosystems work and relates this to their components such as chemicals, bedrock, soil, plants, and animals.Ecosystem ecology...
site located primarily in East Bethel, Minnesota
East Bethel, Minnesota
East Bethel is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,626 at the 2010 census.Minnesota State Highway 65 serves as a main arterial route in the city.-Geography:...
in the counties of Anoka
Anoka County, Minnesota
Anoka County is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest.As of 2010, Anoka...
and Isanti
Isanti County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2010, there were 37,816 people, 14,331 households, and 8,415 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile . There were 12,062 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
on the northern edge of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. Encompassing 5400 acres (21.9 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
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. The herbivory research division examines animal and plant relationships. Led by prominent American ecologist G. David Tilman
G. David Tilman
G. David Tilman born in 1949 in Aurora, Illinois, is a prominent American ecologist who earned his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in 1976. He is Regent's Professor and McKnight Presidential Chair in Ecology at the University of Minnesota, as well as an instructor in Conservation Biology;...
, the University schedules more than 130 faculty, post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, staff, and undergraduate researcher interns to the site as of 2006.
Established in 1940 by the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, the site was designated a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
in 1975 and 1980 under the Historic Sites Act
Historic Sites Act
The Historic Sites Act of 1935 was enacted by the United States Congress largely to organize the myriad federally-own parks, monuments, and historic sites under the National Park Service and the United States Secretary of the Interior...
. It received this designation in May 1975 from the United States Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
, giving it recognition as an outstanding example of the nation's natural history. 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
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
as a Long Term Ecological Research
Long Term Ecological Research Network
The Long Term Ecological Research Network consists of a group of over 1800 scientists and students studying ecological processes over extended temporal and spatial scales...
site in 1982. 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.
Represented as the birthplace of the modern science of ecosystem ecology
Ecosystem ecology
Ecosystem ecology is the integrated study of biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems and their interactions within an ecosystem framework. This science examines how ecosystems work and relates this to their components such as chemicals, bedrock, soil, plants, and animals.Ecosystem ecology...
, the research site tested the first radio collars for animal tracking
Tracking animal migration
For years scientists have been tracking animals and the ways they migrate. One of the many goals of animal migration research has been, of course, to determine where the animals are going; however, researchers also want to know why they are going "there"...
in the 1950s and developed prescribed burning techniques for savannas. The claim is attributed to limnologist Raymond Lindeman
Raymond Lindeman
Raymond Laurel Lindeman was an ecologist whose graduate research is often credited with being a seminal study in field of ecosystem ecology...
(1915-1942) who performed his PhD research on the ecological dynamics of Cedar Bog Lake located in the reserve. Linking Sir Arthur Tansley's
Arthur Tansley
Sir Arthur George Tansley FRS was an English botanist who was a pioneer in the science of ecology. He obtained his degree in Biological Science in 1896, with specialization in botany and zoology. From the start, he was much influenced by the Danish plant ecologist Eugenius Warming. He championed...
coined term "ecosystem" to field research, his studies were influential in forming modern ecosystem ecology.
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
Lythraceae
Lythraceae are a family of flowering plants. It includes about 620 species of mostly herbs, with some shrubs and trees, in 31 genera. Major genera include Cuphea , Lagerstroemia , Nesaea , Rotala , and Lythrum...
Bog." The site was known as Cedar Creek Natural History Area until its change in 2007.