Abstract To contribute achieving the Aichi Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 2020, within the conceptual framework of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), a set of measurements has been proposed to assess biodiversity change, by harmonizing observations and balancing data collection among globally distributed researches. Several projects and research infrastructures are adopting the EBVs framework (e.g. GEO BON, GLOBIS-B) for easing the exchange of data obtained from complementary measurements. Among them, LTER-Europe embraced it to compare in-situ, long-term biodiversity observations within and across networks. However, data related to EBVs are not always shared with other networks thus limiting the possibility to upscale site-based observations. We assess whether LTER-Italy can contribute to EBVs observations, basing our study on metadata resources. To this aim, we interactively inventoried metadata of LTER-Italy sites and datasets hosted in the DEIMS-SDR[1], the LTER-Europe online repository and the globally most comprehensive catalogue of long-term environmental facilities, to demonstrate sites capacity to produce data for "Species Abundance" and "Species Distribution" EBVs. In particular, we obtained two types of EBVs contributions from LTER-Italy: (i) the actual contribution, based on Data Set Metadata encoded in Ecological Metadata Language (EML) and (ii) the potential contribution, based on Site Metadata expressed through the INSPIRE Theme - Environmental Monitoring Facilities (EF) schema[2]. EF specification takes into account the fact that not all data information (e.g. the data set itself or its metadata) can always be published for several reasons, and suggests to give some details of the hidden observations by the EF Observing Capability class referred to a facility or a network. We intend as "potential" the contribution from the site or network that cannot be published but that we can expect given the indications of the measurement regime. To assess the actual contribution, we infer to which extent the data is usable from the completeness of its metadata with respect to EBVs metadata requirements and standards, while to assess the potential contribution we consider both the EBVs monitored parameters and the relative data management practices documented by site managers. By this method, we (i) evaluate the EBVs contributions of LTER-Italy and (ii) discuss both the usefulness and the limits of DEIMS-SDR metadata models to improve synergies among research communities. The research reports also the full EBVs coverage for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments monitored by LTER-Italy, suggesting the usefulness of the automation of our method for networks assessment.
Cooperating networks: Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) contributions from LTER-Italy
Zilioli Martina;Oggioni Alessandro;Pugnetti Alessandra;Carrara Paola
2018
Abstract
Abstract To contribute achieving the Aichi Targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 2020, within the conceptual framework of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), a set of measurements has been proposed to assess biodiversity change, by harmonizing observations and balancing data collection among globally distributed researches. Several projects and research infrastructures are adopting the EBVs framework (e.g. GEO BON, GLOBIS-B) for easing the exchange of data obtained from complementary measurements. Among them, LTER-Europe embraced it to compare in-situ, long-term biodiversity observations within and across networks. However, data related to EBVs are not always shared with other networks thus limiting the possibility to upscale site-based observations. We assess whether LTER-Italy can contribute to EBVs observations, basing our study on metadata resources. To this aim, we interactively inventoried metadata of LTER-Italy sites and datasets hosted in the DEIMS-SDR[1], the LTER-Europe online repository and the globally most comprehensive catalogue of long-term environmental facilities, to demonstrate sites capacity to produce data for "Species Abundance" and "Species Distribution" EBVs. In particular, we obtained two types of EBVs contributions from LTER-Italy: (i) the actual contribution, based on Data Set Metadata encoded in Ecological Metadata Language (EML) and (ii) the potential contribution, based on Site Metadata expressed through the INSPIRE Theme - Environmental Monitoring Facilities (EF) schema[2]. EF specification takes into account the fact that not all data information (e.g. the data set itself or its metadata) can always be published for several reasons, and suggests to give some details of the hidden observations by the EF Observing Capability class referred to a facility or a network. We intend as "potential" the contribution from the site or network that cannot be published but that we can expect given the indications of the measurement regime. To assess the actual contribution, we infer to which extent the data is usable from the completeness of its metadata with respect to EBVs metadata requirements and standards, while to assess the potential contribution we consider both the EBVs monitored parameters and the relative data management practices documented by site managers. By this method, we (i) evaluate the EBVs contributions of LTER-Italy and (ii) discuss both the usefulness and the limits of DEIMS-SDR metadata models to improve synergies among research communities. The research reports also the full EBVs coverage for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments monitored by LTER-Italy, suggesting the usefulness of the automation of our method for networks assessment.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
