Assessing the Extent and Impact of Online Data Sharing in Eddy Covariance Flux Research

Abstract

Research data sharing is appealing for its potential benefits on sharers' scientific impact and is also advocated by various policies. How do scientific benefits and policies correlate with practical ecological data sharing? In this study, we investigated data‐sharing practices in eddy covariance flux research as a typical case. First, we collected researchers' data‐sharing information from major observation networks. Then, we downloaded bibliometric data from the Web of Science and evaluated scientific impact using LeaderRank, a synthetic algorithm that takes both citation and cooperation impacts into consideration. Our results demonstrated the following: (1) specific to eddy covariance flux research, 8% of researchers published information in public data portals, whereas 64% of researchers provided their available data online in a downloadable form; (2) regional differences in data sharing, publications, and observation networks existed; and (3) the data sharers in impact‐ranked ecologists followed a long‐tail distribution, which suggested that, although sharing data is not necessary for researchers to be influential, data sharers are more likely to be high‐impact researchers. Differentiated policies should be proposed to encourage ecologists in the long tail of data sharers, and from regions with little tradition of data sharing, to embrace a more open model of science.

Data Sharing and Scientific Impact in Eddy Covariance Research

“…The Dai et al () results emphasize a number of unanswered questions and potential future work. One obvious issue—and a classically ecological one—revolves around causality versus correlation: does data sharing truly increase influence in EC and related fields?…”

“…Dai et al () examined the question of how data sharing is related to scientific impact, arguing that EC researchers in many ways pioneered data sharing in modern ecology and thus the field deserves particular attention. Taking an algorithmic (and thus reproducible) approach to the problem, the authors extracted researchers' names from major EC data portals (FLUXNET, Ameriflux, AsiaFlux, EFDC, and OzFlux) and classified them according to the degree of data sharing based on site data availability.…”

Open science, reproducibility, and transparency in ecology

“…), and indeed the most influential scientists in some fields also appear to be the most prominent data sharers (Dai et al. ). Ecology has now moved more fully into the “big science” era.…”

“…If we incorporate the lessons and practices of reproducibility and openness into undergraduate curricula and training of young researchers now, we can increase our capacity to address the current and future challenges. Evidence is mounting that the move toward open science and data sharing has positive career outcomes (Piwowar et al 2007), and indeed the most influential scientists in some fields also appear to be the most prominent data sharers (Dai et al 2018). Ecology has now moved more fully into the "big science" era.…”

Leveraging Environmental Research and Observation Networks to Advance Soil Carbon Science

“…As such, network SOM data must be discoverable in order to maximize utility beyond the initial data collection effort. Enhanced data dissemination has been shown to benefit both scientific discovery and the researchers who share data in the eddy covariance flux community (Dai et al, ). The same will apply for SOM.…”