Challenges and Opportunities in Establishing China Infrastructure for Big Biodiversity Data

Abstract

High-quality biodiversity data are the scientific basis for understanding the origin, sustainable utility of biodiversity and dealing with its extinction risk. Gathering big data of biodiversity and mining novel discoveries cross disciplines will lead to the change of the way how life system should be understood, and how biodiversity resources should be utilized sustainably. Therefore, to establish an infrastructure for the big biodiversity data in China is urgently needed. This infrastructure (BioONE) incorporates big biodiversity data from both macro and micro scales, and integrate data service and data mining system. It incorporates BioDatasets, BioMapping, Biotools, BioSevices and BioKnowledge systems. The BioDatasets integrated palaeontology, genomics, traits, taxonomy and habitats. The BioMapping data that come from geography, climatology, remote sensing, environmental science and economy are also included as a comprehensive rasterized dataset being available to the public. It could provide standardized visualization services to our governments to promote the conservation of biodiversity resources and ecological safety. These services will also contribute greatly to exploring the frontiers in the advancement of the biodiversity scientific discoveries and innovations, providing fundamental data products for fulfilling the international biodiversity obligations, the biodiversity monitoring, prevention and control of infectious disease, and ensuring the ecological security and the sustainable development of economy.