See the photo. Scientific significance of integrated monitoring Combining data of all aspects of the catchment area allows most favourable basis for the identification of the causes and ecological consequences of environmental changes. Long term time series help to understand ecological phenomena which occur over longer temporal scales which are generally neglected. There is an urgent global need of this type material. Practical advantages for accompanying research groups Integrated monitoring area supplies an excellent platform for research of specific ecological questions allowing more thorough background information than is possible in any individual project.
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This liberates the financing of accompanied research to be completely devoted to the fulfilment of the project goals meaning increased productivity of invested money. The multidisciplinary approach of the integrated monitoring offers a fruitful atmosphere to develop ideas relevant and realistic at the ecosystem level. Due to small physical dimensions and sheltered position research is technically less demanding and time consuming. Similarly, experimental arrangements can be made within convenient dimensions. The biotic communities are simple consisting of only few quantitatively important species at each trophic level.