Research Data Management and Connectivity for Neotropical Field Stations

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Tropical Field Stations (TFS) generate information vital to the advance of ecological, evolutionary, biosystematic knowledge, as well as providing core data relevant to sociological, biological and economic processes directly related to the conservation and management of tropical ecosystems. TFS are characterized by being sites at remote locations in less developed countries, often used on a temporary basis by researchers from different home institutions, and whose interactions are restricted by disciplinary, cultural, national and language barriers. Nonetheless, they hold an important key to unveiling the effects of climate change and the principles of ecosystem management in the tropics. In spite of the importance of preserving and making accessible the information generated at TFS, there is no consensus on the guidelines that should regulate data documentation, generation of metadata sets or overall data management at these sites. Furthermore, TFS are not yet connected among themselves with a suitable communications network. This lack of a framework restricts comparative analysis and jeopardizes the long-term utility of the data sets. Some characteristics of TFS --such as remote locations in less developed countries and their multidisciplinary, multilingual, and transcultural set of users-- are, in part, responsible for their underdeveloped stage regarding data management and connectivity. In cooperation with other leading tropical stations, the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) proposes the development of a planning process (consisting of two phases: needs-analysis and prototype development) that will seek a consensus on the guidelines that will effectively regulate data management and accessibility at neotropical field stations. Expected products are: (i) a document specifying the needs and characteristics of data management and connectivity in TFS; (ii) a consensus on basic guidelines and recommendations for data management and connectivity issues; (iii) a tested prototype for later implementation involving a large array of field stations; (iv) a report on the procedures applied and the problems and solutions generated; and (v) a proposal for wider implementation of interconnected data management systems at neotropical field stations. iv