Note

Regional NEON Groups

As the NEON concept has developed, regional groups have self-organized to create partnerships, inventory existing infrastructure, and generally explore how NEON can enhance research capacities within their regions. The NEON regions are based loosely on ecoregions and represent the major biomes of the United States and Antarctica.

Throughout the country there are now fifteen such groups. They vary in their formal organizational status — some just starting to meet formally, others organized for several years. Regional group meetings have aided in building momentum by creating a forum for the NEON community to consider how this national research platform can improve our ability to understand ecological phenomena.

Tentative regions are mapped below. The boundaries were initially determined at a meeting of key leaders from each of the regions that took place at the Conservation Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia on Jan 27-29, 2004. Since that meeting, new regions have emerged and boundaries have evolved. It is likely that they will continue to do so.

NEON Regions

• High Latitude Ecological Observatory (HLEO)
• Antarctic NEON (AAEON)
• California Ecological Observatory (CALEON)
• Central Plains Grasslands Ecological Observatory (CENTRUS)
• Intermountain Regional Observatory Network (IRON)
• Great Lakes and Central US Ecological Observatory (GLACEO)
• Mid-Atlantic Region Ecological Observatory (MAREO)
• Northeast Ecological Observatory (NEEON)
• Neotropical Ecological Observatory (NEONEON)
• Hawaii and the U.S. Associated Islands in the Pacific Ecological Observatory (PNEON)
• Pacific Northwest Regional Ecological Observatory (PNWREO)
• Rocky Mountain Ecological Observatory (ROMEON)
• Southeast Ecological Observatory (SEEON)
• Southern Appalachians to Ozarks Ecological Observatory (SAPOZEON)
• Southwest Ecological Observatory (SWEON)