These networks deliver to ecologists data on localized environmental conditions at the scale of individual organisms to help settle large-scaleland-use issues affecting animals, plants, and people.

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Ecological observatories are a new class of multiuser research infrastructure designed and deployed to address a broad range of continental-scale ecological questions that until only recently were not technologically feasible. These highly networked ecological observatories, spread across the United States and featuring a diverse integration of programmable sensing capabilities and remote observational functions are expected to enable a transformation in the scope of environmental research, particularly in relation to understanding how global climate shifts and local and regional land use changes will quantitatively affect the composition, structure, and dynamics of the nation's ecosystems and services. Observing systems research focused on terrestrial ecology is one of four core research application fields of the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing, which operates an engineering and experimental test bed located at the James

Simple visible-light digital cameras offer a potential for expanded forms of plant ecological research. The moss Tortula princeps undergoes changes in reflected visible light during cycles of drying and hydrating in the field, and the MossCam project has collected digital images of T. princeps at least daily since 2003. Laboratory studies can be used to calibrate these images to indicate field physiological conditions. Drying the moss 6 d in the laboratory resulted in a decrease of net CO 2 uptake to near 0; recovery after rewetting occurred within 10 min. The difference in reflectance between hydrated and dry T. princeps was maximal ca. 550 nm, and maximal net CO 2 uptake was linearly related to the green : red ratio of laboratory images when net CO 2 uptake was positive. Using the green : red ratio of field images and otherwise assuming ideal conditions, the total carbon gain for a 6-d period around a 1.3-mm rain event was ca. 208 mmol CO 2 m ÿ2 , equivalent to 69 d of respiration under dry conditions. Using a visible-light digital camera with micrometeorological data and laboratory-based gas exchange measurements, T. princeps can be used as a model species for simple field estimations of photosynthesis, carbon gain, and phenological events.

Sensor networks promise to transform and expand environmental science. However, many technological difficulties must be overcome to achieve this potential. Partnerships of ecologists with computer scientists and engineers are critical in meeting these challenges. Technological issues include promoting innovation in new sensor design, incorporating power optimization schemes, integrating appropriate communication protocols, streamlining data management and access, using innovative graphic and statistical analyses, and enabling both scientists and the public to access the results. Multidisciplinary partnerships are making major contributions to technological advances, and we showcase examples of this exciting new technology, as well as new approaches for training researchers to make effective use of emerging tools.

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