Ecological Informatics

Abstract

Preface 2nd Edition Ecological informatics (ecoinformatics) is an interdisciplinary framework for the processing, archival, analysis and synthesis of ecological data by advanced computational technology (Recknagel 2003). Processing and archival of ecological data aim at facilitating data standardization, retrieval and sharing by means of metadata and object-oriented programming (e.g. Michener et al. 1997; Dolk 2000; Sen 2003; Eleveld, Schrimpf and Siegert 2003). Analysis and synthesis of ecological data aim at elucidating principles of information processing, structuring and functioning of ecosystems, and forecasting of ecosystems behaviours by means of bio-inspired computation (e.g. Fielding 1999; Lek and Guegan 2000; Recknagel 2003). Ecological informatics currently undergoes the process of consolidation as a discipline. It corresponds and partially overlaps with the well-established disciplines bioinformatics and ecological modeling but is taking its distinct shape and scope. In Fig. 1 a comparison is made between ecological informatics and bioinformatics. Even though both are based on the same computational technology their focus is different. Bioinformatics focuses very much on determining gene function and interaction (e.g. Overbeck et al. 1999; Wolf et al. 2001), protein structure and function (e.g. Henikoff et al. 1999; Lupas, Van Dyke and Stock 1991) as well as phenotype of organisms utilizing DNA microarray, genomic, physiological and metabolic data (e.g. Lockhardt and Winzeler 2000) (Fig. 1a). By contrast ecological informatics focuses to determine population function and interactions as well as ecosystem structure and functioning by utilizing genomic, phenotypic, community, environmental and climate data (e.g. DâtexttrademarkAngelo et al. 1995; Chon et al. 2003; Park et al. 2003, Jeong, Recknagel and Joo 2003) (Fig. 1b). A comparison is made between ecological modeling and ecological informatics in Fig. 2. Even though both rely on similar ecological data they adopt different approaches in utilizing the data. Whilst ecological modeling processes ecological data top down by ad hoc designed statistical or mathematical models (e.g. Straskraba and Gnauck 1985; Jorgensen 1994), ecological informatics infers ecological processes from ecological data patterns bottom up by computational techniques. The cross-sectional area between ecological modeling and ecological informatics reflects a new generation of hybrid models that enable to predict emergent ecosystem structures and behaviours, and ecosystem evolution (e.g. Booth 1997; Downing 1997; Hraber and Milne 1997; Huse, Strand and Giske 1999). Typically those models embody biologically-inspired computation in deterministic ecological models.

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