Research Data Management and Connectivity for Neotropical Field Stations

热带野外观测站产生对发展生态、进化和生物系统知识至关重要的信息，并提供与与热带生态系统的养护和管理直接相关的社会学、生物学和经济进程有关的核心数据。技术转让中心的特点是位于欠发达国家的偏远地区，经常由来自不同母国机构的研究人员临时使用，其互动受到学科、文化、民族和语言障碍的限制。尽管如此，对于揭示气候变化的影响和热带生态系统管理的原则，它们仍然是一个重要的关键。尽管保存和提供技术服务中心产生的信息很重要，但在规范这些网站的数据文件编制、元数据集的生成或总体数据管理的准则方面没有达成共识。此外，TF之间还没有通过合适的通信网络进行连接。缺乏框架限制了比较分析，并危及数据集的长期效用。技术服务的一些特点--例如在欠发达国家的偏远地点及其多学科、多语言和跨文化的用户群体--在一定程度上是它们在数据管理和连通性方面不发达的原因。热带研究组织(OTS)与其他主要热带观测站合作，提议制定一个规划进程(包括两个阶段：需求分析和原型开发)，以寻求就有效管理新热带野外观测站的数据管理和可获得性的指导方针达成共识。预期的产品是：(1)一份文件，具体说明技术服务中心数据管理和连通方面的需求和特点；(2)就数据管理和连通问题的基本准则和建议达成共识；(3)一份经过测试的原型，供以后实施，涉及一大批外地站；(4)一份关于所采用的程序以及产生的问题和解决办法的报告；(5)关于在新热带实地站更广泛地实施相互连接的数据管理系统的建议。四.

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