To
examine leaf to plant level responses, ecosystem level responses, and
to build predictive models of plant and ecosystem responses to climate change.
The
Nevada Desert FACE Facility (NDFF) on the response of the Mojave Desert the most
arid ecosystem in North America, and one likely to respond to increased atmospheric
CO2.
Nevada
FACE CO2, storage tank and vaporization system. The Principal
Investigators for this project are from the Universities of Nevada at Reno and
Las Vegas, the Desert Research Institute, and Brookhaven National lab. This
program is also integrated with the Nevada Global Environmental Change Program
(NevGEC). An additional 20 scientists from 6 other universities and 4 government
research labs have committed to conducting research at the NDFF.
The
Nevada Research Park provides a long history of desert research, an ecosystem
free from grazing for 40+ years, security arrangements, and infra structural support.
The NDFF consists of 9 circular study plots, each 23 m in diameter. 3 plots
with elevated CO2 concentrations (550 ppm), 3 plots ambient CO2
concentrations, and 3 control plots.
Threatened
and Endangered Species
The
Mojave Desert population of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is
a federally listed threatened species. As the result of a Biological Assessment,
the DOE has modified its activities to limit potential impacts. For example,
preactivity surveys to protect desert tortoises and their burrows resulted in
habitat reclamation, off-road restrictions, prohibition on trapping, grazing,
collecting, and the control of potentially toxic substances.
Frenchman
Flat - Desert Tortoise habitat in the Mojave
Desert
Long-term DataSetsand Database Information
A
considerable amount of data and database information is available from past and
present long-term studies and investigations at all of the NERP's. Datasets
available from the Nevada NERP include:
• Meteorological and climatological information
• Groundwater depths, water quality, and
monitoring
• Species lists of plants, mammals, birds,
and reptiles
• Radiological information
• Environmental monitoring reports
• Satellite imagery and aerial photography
The
Mojave Desert population of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is
a federally listed threatened species. As the result of a Biological Assessment,
the DOE has modified its activities to limit potential impacts. For example,
preactivity surveys to protect desert tortoises and their burrows resulted in
habitat reclamation, off-road restrictions, prohibition on trapping, grazing,
collecting, and the control of potentially toxic substances.
