Ecological Informatics 6 (2011) 13
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Ecological Informatics
j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / e c o l i n f
Ecological informatics: A discipline in the making
a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
Available online 13 December 2010 Ecological data management, analysis and synthesis as well as information processing and transfer in ecology
are addressed as feature areas of ecological informatics. Integrated analysis and synthesis of ecological and
genomics data, hybrid model libraries generic for ecosystem categories as well as internet-based data and
model sharing are identied as key research areas of ecological informatics.
1. Introduction
The intention of launching the journal Ecological Informatics in
2006 was to establish a forum for ecologists, biologists, engineers and
informaticists to communicate and promote novel research in and
around two feature areas: (1) ecological data management, analysis
and synthesis, and (2) information processing and transfer in ecology.
To date 273 manuscripts have been submitted with 175 manu-
scripts being accepted and published in 26 issues covering the
subjects: Bio-inspired computation, Data management and LTER, GIS
and remote sensing, Hybrid modelling, Ecogenomics, Spatio-temporal
computation, and Theory of ecological informatics.
This issue is dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the journal
Ecological Informatics, and the Subject Editors have been invited to
address progress in their subject areas.
2. Feature areas of ecological informatics
2.1. Ecological data management, analysis and synthesis
Even though extensive eld and laboratory studies are generating
a wealth of physical, chemical, biological and molecular data utilising
novel sensor, information and computing technology, these data are
still highly fragmented, only constraint accessible and rarely shared.
More over ecological data are extremely complex, diverse and
heterogeneous but need to be appropriately processed and synthe-
sised before they are of any use.
There is clearly a need for research in ecological data management,
analysis and synthesis and the journal promotes and stimulates it.
Fig. 1 describes the general ow of ecological information
originating from different sources, undergoing different stages of
integration and informing decisions in on- or off-line mode. The three
sources of information are typically ecological data, heuristic and
causal ecological knowledge that are integrated during the data
analysis and synthesis. Before ecological data enter data analysis and
synthesis they undergo data acquisition (e.g. Foody, 2007; Chang,
2010) and processing (e.g. Jones and Gries, 2010). Data visualisation
by graphics, maps and animations becomes increasingly important in
order to communicate ecological information with a broader audience
1574-9541/$ see front matter 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ecoinf.2010.12.002
2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
of decision makers, stakeholders, citizens in an easy manner that
is also understandable to non-experts. The information integrated by
data analysis and synthesis supports either on-line or off-line
decisions. On-line decisions require on-line monitoring by in situ
sensors and/or remote sensing and allow early warning. Off-line
decisions are typically supported by data warehouse queries, scenario
and sensitivity analysis by computer simulation and forecasting.
It becomes obvious from Fig. 1 that ecological data management,
analysis and synthesis relies heavily on well-coordinated inter-disciplin-
ary research (Chon and Park, 2006) basically between natural scientists
and computer scientists. Only the combination of highly reliable eco-
logical data, competent ecological knowledge and novel computation
and sensor technology will result in informed decisions to be trusted.
2.2. Information processing and transfer in ecology
Information processing and transfer in ecology determines the
structure, functioning and evolution of ecosystems (e.g. Hogeweg,
2007). It is exemplary for highly complex systems but poorly understood.
Therefore research in this area needs to be promoted and stimulated.
Fig. 2 highlights the importance of information processing and
transfer for determining ecosystem behaviour in response to
environmental, habitat and climate changes. It indicates that inter-
and intra-specic communication of organisms e.g. by info-chemicals
(e.g. Voss et al., 2006; van Donk, 2007) and genomes is decisively
controlling the extent and direction of food web dynamics and
nutrient cycles by taking into account the structure of the food web,
nutrient stoichiometry, habitat and climate conditions. Insights into
the structure and functioning of information carriers in ecosystems
such as info-chemicals and genomes will improve our understanding
on how ecosystems evolve through consecutive stable states.
Inter-disciplinary research is required between ecologists, geneti-
cists and information scientists to improve our knowledge on
ecological information processing and transfer.
3. Conclusions
Making informed decisions on conservation of biodiversity and
sustainable environments in spite of ongoing pollution and climate
2 F. Recknagel / Ecological Informatics 6 (2011) 13

Fig. 1. Flow of ecological information from the sources to the end-users.

Fig. 2. The role of inter- and intra-specic communication in determining ecosystem behaviour.
 F. Recknagel / Ecological Informatics 6 (2011) 13
change is of vital importance for the habitat earth in the 21st century.
Ecological informatics improves understanding of ecological informa-
tion processing and transfer, and develops tools for integrating,
analysing and synthesising the wealth of ecological knowledge and
data for making informed decision at local, regional and global scale.
Future research in Ecological informatics will focus on: (1)
integrated analysis and synthesis of genomic, phenotypic and
ecological data in order to better understand biodiversity and
ecosystem behaviour in response to habitat and climate change. The
papers of Metzger et al. (2011) and Chon (2011) in this issue address
these topics. (2) data sharing by internet-based generic data ware-
houses tailored for ecosystem categories at global scale. This topic is
addressed by Michener et al. (2011) in this issue. (3) integration and
visualisation of eld data and remotely sensed data by GIS. This topic
is addressed by Boyd and Foody (2011) in this issue. (4) implemen-
tation of hybrid model libraries generic for ecosystem categories
at global scale by object-oriented programming and internet access.
Both Parrott (2011) and Chen et al. (2011) in this issue address this
topic.
References
Boyd, D. S. and G. M. Foody, 2011 An overview of recent remote sensing and GIS based
research in ecological informatics. Ecological Informatics 6, 1 (25-36).
Chang, N.-B., 2010. Advances of ecological remote sensing under global change.
Ecological Informatics 5 (5), 317439.
3
Chen, Q., Han, R., Ye, F. and W. Li, 2011. Spatio-temporal ecological models. Ecological
Informatics 6, 1 (37-43).
Chon, T.-S., 2011.Self-Organizing Maps Applied to Ecological Sciences. Ecological
Informatics 6, 1 (50-61).
Chon, T.-S., Park, Y.-S., 2006. Ecological informatics as an advanced interdisciplinary
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Foody, G.M., 2007. Ecological applications of remote sensing and GIS. Ecological
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Hogeweg, P., 2007. From population dynamics to ecoinformatics: ecosystems as
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Jones, M.B., Gries, C., 2010. Advances in environmental data management. Ecological
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Metzger, K. J., Klaper, R. and M. A. Thomas, 2011. Implications of informatics approaches
in ecological research. Ecological Informatics 6, 1 (4-12).
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research and information management. Ecological Informatics 6, 1 (13-24).
Parrott, L., 2011. Hybrid modelling 1 of complex ecological systems for decision support:
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Van Donk, E., 2007. Chemical information transfer in freshwater plankton. Ecological
Informatics 2, 112120.
Voss, M., et al., 2006. Infochemicals structure marine, terrestrial and freshwater food
webs: implications for ecological informatics. Ecological Informatics 1, 2332.
Friedrich Recknagel
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Adelaide,
Adelaide, 5005 Australia
E-mail address: friedrich.recknagel@adelaide.edu.au.