Data are one of the most valuable products of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network. Data and metadata derived from publicly funded research in the U.S. LTER Network are made available online with as few restrictions as possible, on a non-discriminatory basis. In return, the LTER Network expects data users to act ethically by contacting the investigator prior to the use of data for publication.

The LTER Network Information System Data Portal contains ecological data packages contributed by past and present LTER sites. Please review the LTER Data Policy before downloading any data product. We request that you cite data sources in your published and unpublished works whenever possible. Digital object identifiers (DOI) are provided for each dataset to facilitate citation.

Voluntary registration on this site will allow us to notify you of updates to data and metadata of interest and of corrections made to data. In addition, your validated login will gain you access to even more data where contributors have asked for additional information on use. Click here to register now.

LTER Network scientists make every effort to release data in a timely fashion and with attention to accurate, well-designed and well-documented data. To understand data fully, please read the associated metadata and contact data providers if you have any questions. The LTER Network is not responsible for misinterpretation of data resulting from failure to consult metadata or data providers.