Fostering ecological data sharing: collaborations in the International Long Term Ecological Research Network

Xuebing Guo,Honglin He,Sheng-Shan Lu,John H. Porter,Inigo San Gil,Abd Rahman Kassim,Chau-Chin Lin,Kristin L. Vanderbilt,David Blankman

doi:10.1890/es14-00281.1

Abstract

The International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) Network was established in 1993 and is now composed of thirty‐eight national networks representing a diversity of ecosystems around the globe. Data generated by the ILTER Network are valuable for scientists addressing broad spatial and temporal scale research questions, but only if these data can be easily discovered, accessed, and understood. Challenges to publishing ILTER data have included unequal distribution among networks of information management expertise, user‐friendly tools, and resources. Language and translation have also been issues. Despite these significant obstacles, ILTER information managers have formed grassroots partnerships and collaborated to provide information management training, adopt a common metadata standard, develop information management tools useful throughout the network, and organize scientist/information manager workshops that encourage scientists to share and integrate data. Throughout this article, we share lessons learned from the successes of these grassroots international partnerships to inform others who wish to collaborate internationally on projects that depend on data sharing entailing similar management challenges.

Highlights

The demand for access to diverse types of data is increasing within the ecological research community
The grassroots workshops of the International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) information management community have been possible because collaborators have shared expenses by: the local host picking up participant local costs, and participants acquiring their own travel funds from their own institute or government
The ILTER information management community has addressed many challenges related to making ILTER data discoverable, accessible, and well-documented

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The demand for access to diverse types of data is increasing within the ecological research community. The lesson learned from this training strategy was that these one-off workshops were useful for raising awareness of the importance of data sharing in the ILTER Network and for providing insights into the levels of resources and commitment that are required for information management. They fell short, in establishing sustained interactions among ILTER information managers or triggering many information management activities in the national networks that participated

Information management concepts and web technology

Virginia Coast Reserve

Engaging scientists with information managers for mutual benefit

Leveraging open source software when resources are scarce

Lessons learned

Relevance to specific stakeholders

CONCLUSION

Findings

LITERATURE CITED