About the collection
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Biorepository is a continental-scale major research infrastructure for long-term ecological monitoring supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, with over 1.1 million physical samples. The Biorepository holds contemporary samples and is expected to continue to grow until at least 2049. It houses a diverse array of fully digitized samples from all 81 NEON field sites, with a large portion of its holdings preserved through cryogenic methods. All samples are linked to rich contextual data generated by NEON accessible to the research community via an online data portal.
A major strength of the NEON collections is the use of standardized collection methods across a geographically extensive network of sites and over long time periods, creating opportunities for comparative research, retrospective analyses, and investigations of ecological change. Because the samples are linked to digitized records, collection metadata, and NEON’s broader suite of measurements, they support reproducible, cross-disciplinary research into biogeochemical cycling, atmospheric deposition, soil properties, and ecosystem responses to environmental change. Their long-term preservation and availability for future analyses also allow researchers to revisit questions using new methods as analytical technologies advance.
