Funding Should Come to Those Who Wait

Abstract

![Figure][1] Long-term studies. Studies spanning decades have yielded insights into red deer and other species. CREDIT: MEHMET KARATAY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS We applaud the Perspective by T. Clutton-Brock and B. C. Sheldon (“The Seven Ages of Pan ,” 5 March, p. [1207][2]) on the value of long-term behavior and ecological research. We pick up where they left off: funding. Long-term research has cumulative value that far exceeds its annual rate of return. Sadly, quick empirical studies trump long-term research in the reward system for academic promotion in ecology and behavior. If long-term research is to flourish, we must build a reward system for studies characterized by deferred gratification. A sea change in these values must precede attempts to address funding. To secure the future of long-term field projects, we must act on three fronts: (i) We must devise funding mechanisms for “legacy” projects deemed too valuable to falter. Whereas the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) National Ecological Observatory Network and Long-Term Ecological Research programs support long-term collaborative, site-based research, there is a compelling need to support the diversity of long-term investigator-initiated programs. As implemented, NSF's Long-Term Research in Environmental Biology program is a first step, but has insufficient support to maintain many valuable projects. (ii) We must develop mechanisms to fund the establishment of new programs with long-term potential. Such potential may not be initially appreciated, but with vision and support, new systems studied over the long run will produce novel insights. (iii) Support for ecological research must be increased. We do not advocate robbing Peter (short-term research) to pay Paul (long-term research). However, we maintain that Paul has already been robbed and some balance needs to be restored. Most of us involved in long-term research have a story to share, in which time-limited funding shortages took our programs to the edge of a precipice. Investigators that succeed and become known for long-term research, almost by definition, have found a way to adapt to funding shortfalls, usually at great personal sacrifice. A recent case at the Los Amigos Biological Station in the Peruvian Amazon speaks to the value of funding continuity ([ 1 ][3]). During a 4-year period of programmatic support, the scientific productivity of the station surged, producing many valuable findings and building substantial scientific capacity for the region. Since the funding evaporated, the station has failed to return to its former glory, at great loss to our ability to make scientific inroads into understanding the ecology of this area, characterized by unrivaled biodiversity. Of course, long-term programs must remain intellectually vibrant and methodologically rigorous if they are to be supported. In the end, the onus is on ecologists to convince ourselves, society, and funding agencies that long-term research has unique and irreplaceable value. 1. [↵][4] 1. N. C. A. Pitman , Trends Ecol. Evol. 25, 381 (2010). [OpenUrl][5][CrossRef][6][PubMed][7] [1]: pending:yes [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1187796 [3]: #ref-1 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [5]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DTrends%2Bin%2BEcology%2B%2526%2BEvolution%26rft.stitle%253DTrends%2Bin%2BEcology%2B%2526%2BEvolution%26rft.aulast%253DPitman%26rft.auinit1%253DN.%2BC.%26rft.volume%253D25%26rft.issue%253D7%26rft.spage%253D381%26rft.epage%253D381%26rft.atitle%253DResearch%2Bin%2Bbiodiversity%2Bhotspots%2Bshould%2Bbe%2Bfree.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.tree.2010.04.002%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F20430471%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [6]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/j.tree.2010.04.002&link_type=DOI [7]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=20430471&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F329%2F5989%2F276.1.atom