NEON and STREON: opportunities and challenges for the aquatic sciences

Creation of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) provides unparalleled opportunities for continental-scale research and synthesis in aquatic sciences. Organizers of the NEON aquatic network will equip sites at 29 streams or small rivers across bioclimatic regions of the USA to measure O2 dynamics, aquatic community structure, and aquatic chemistry for up to 3 decades. Data will be collected via a suite of sensors and traditional measurements of a wide range of variables with standardized techniques. The availability of such data will usher in a new era for aquatic scientists, who can use the data to understand the influence of major drivers of stream ecosystem structure and function at regional to continental scales. This rich data stream also will present challenges for the aquatic community. These challenges include interpreting field measurements at distant sites, analysis and management of large data sets, development of appropriate tools for synthesis, and changes in the culture...