The second National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) workshop (NEON Workshop II) attracted 25 participants with technical expertise in many areas of biology and computer science. All participants support the creation of NEON, a research infrastructure capable of supporting revolutionary advances in our understanding of ecological systems. The workshop focused on defining this infrastructure at two levels: that of the individual NEON observatory and that of the entire network.

This workshop was organized to provide advice to the National Science Foundation regarding the formation, organization and potential roles of a National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). A second workshop dealing with technological infrastructure will follow in March, 2000, followed by a third workshop on network management issues later in the year. All workshops will be posted on the internet to allow for full participation and commentary by the research community.

This report describes the results of the fourth workshop sponsored by the National Science Foundation to assist with the development of a Biological Observation Network (BON). The mission of the BON program is to advance knowledge of the biological, physical and social determinants of biological diversity, its environmental consequences, and its role in determining biocomplexity.

A third workshop on the Biodiversity Observatory Network (BON) took place at the California Academy of Sciences, May 6-7, 1999. The aim of this meeting was to review and refine the recommendations of the first two workshops, focusing specifically on the role of systematic biology in the program.

Report Of The Second Workshop On The Biodiversity Observation Network (January 14-16, 1999), National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (Santa Barbara, California), Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Report Submitted April 29, 1999.

Final Report of the BIODIVERSITY MONITORING WORKSHOP convened at the University of Virginia's Blandy Experimental Farm and sponsored by The National Science Foundation (Blandy Experimental Farm, University of Virginia, 10-11 September, 1998).