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Spatial and temporal variability characterizes virtually all ecosystems, with resource supply changing over the course of growing season and across years due to climate variation. To better understand spatial heterogeneity in ecological response across landscape positions, we established a 16-node sensor array within a 45 hectare catchment landscape that measures temporal variability of important biogeochemical and hydrological controls on ecosystem processes. The array was established at the Niwot Saddle catchment in order to accompany long term water quality and discharge records taken at the top and bottom of this catchment. The region forms an important ecological linkage between the the terrestrial areas of the Niwot Ridge LTER and the aquatic component in the Green Lakes Valley. 

Spatial and temporal variability characterizes virtually all ecosystems, with resource supply changing over the course of growing season and across years due to climate variation. To better understand spatial heterogeneity in ecological response across landscape positions, we established a 16-node sensor array within a 45-hectare catchment landscape that measures temporal variability of important biogeochemical and hydrological controls on ecosystem processes. The array was established at the Niwot Saddle catchment in order to accompany long term water quality and discharge records taken at the top and bottom of this catchment. The region forms an important ecological linkage between the terrestrial areas of the Niwot Ridge LTER and the aquatic component in the Green Lakes Valley. Over two years (2017 – 2018), above-ground biomass data were sampled adjacent to each of the 16 sensor nodes to characterize plant productivity. Beginning in 2023, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was measured at each node. 

Above-ground plant species cover was recorded for vegetation plots in the sensor network, starting in 2017. Cover was measured annually at peak biomass using a 100 point-intercept method.