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Hardisty AR, Bacall F, Beard N, Balcázar-Vargas MP, Balech B, Barcza Z, Bourlat SJ, De Giovanni R, de Jong Y, De Leo F, Dobor L, Donvito G, Fellows D, Guerra AF, Ferreira N, Fetyukova Y, Fosso B, Giddy J, Goble C, Güntsch A, Haines R, Ernst VH, Hettling H, Hidy D, Horváth F, Ittzés D, Ittzés P, Jones A, Kottmann R, Kulawik R, Leidenberger S, Lyytikäinen-Saarenmaa P, Mathew C, Morrison N, Nenadic A, de la Hidalga AN, Obst M, Oostermeijer G, Paymal E, Pesole G, Pinto S, Poigné A, Fernandez FQ, Santamaria M, Saarenmaa H, Sipos G, Sylla KH, Tähtinen M, Vicario S, Vos RA, Williams AR, Yilmaz P. BioVeL: a virtual laboratory for data analysis and modelling in biodiversity science and ecology. BMC Ecol 2016; 16:49. [PMID: 27765035 PMCID: PMC5073428 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-016-0103-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Making forecasts about biodiversity and giving support to policy relies increasingly on large collections of data held electronically, and on substantial computational capability and capacity to analyse, model, simulate and predict using such data. However, the physically distributed nature of data resources and of expertise in advanced analytical tools creates many challenges for the modern scientist. Across the wider biological sciences, presenting such capabilities on the Internet (as “Web services”) and using scientific workflow systems to compose them for particular tasks is a practical way to carry out robust “in silico” science. However, use of this approach in biodiversity science and ecology has thus far been quite limited. Results BioVeL is a virtual laboratory for data analysis and modelling in biodiversity science and ecology, freely accessible via the Internet. BioVeL includes functions for accessing and analysing data through curated Web services; for performing complex in silico analysis through exposure of R programs, workflows, and batch processing functions; for on-line collaboration through sharing of workflows and workflow runs; for experiment documentation through reproducibility and repeatability; and for computational support via seamless connections to supporting computing infrastructures. We developed and improved more than 60 Web services with significant potential in many different kinds of data analysis and modelling tasks. We composed reusable workflows using these Web services, also incorporating R programs. Deploying these tools into an easy-to-use and accessible ‘virtual laboratory’, free via the Internet, we applied the workflows in several diverse case studies. We opened the virtual laboratory for public use and through a programme of external engagement we actively encouraged scientists and third party application and tool developers to try out the services and contribute to the activity. Conclusions Our work shows we can deliver an operational, scalable and flexible Internet-based virtual laboratory to meet new demands for data processing and analysis in biodiversity science and ecology. In particular, we have successfully integrated existing and popular tools and practices from different scientific disciplines to be used in biodiversity and ecological research. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12898-016-0103-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex R Hardisty
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Queens Buildings, 5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK.
| | - Finn Bacall
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Niall Beard
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Maria-Paula Balcázar-Vargas
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bachir Balech
- Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics (IBBE), National Research Council (CNR), via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Zoltán Barcza
- Department of Meteorology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány sétány 1/A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Sarah J Bourlat
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Renato De Giovanni
- Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental, Avenida Dr. Romeu Tórtima, 388, Campinas, SP, 13084-791, Brazil
| | - Yde de Jong
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,SIB Labs, Joensuu Science Park, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Francesca De Leo
- Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics (IBBE), National Research Council (CNR), via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Laura Dobor
- Department of Meteorology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány sétány 1/A, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Giacinto Donvito
- Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Donal Fellows
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Antonio Fernandez Guerra
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany.,Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Nuno Ferreira
- Stichting EGI (EGI.eu), Science Park 140, 1098, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yuliya Fetyukova
- SIB Labs, Joensuu Science Park, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Bruno Fosso
- Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics (IBBE), National Research Council (CNR), via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Jonathan Giddy
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Queens Buildings, 5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
| | - Carole Goble
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Anton Güntsch
- Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 6-8, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Haines
- IT Services, University of Manchester, Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Vera Hernández Ernst
- Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS), Schloss Birlinghoven, 53757, Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Hannes Hettling
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dóra Hidy
- MTA-SZIE Plant Ecology Research Group, Szent István University, Páter K. u.1., Gödöllő, 2103, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Horváth
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Alkotmány u. 2-4., Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Dóra Ittzés
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Alkotmány u. 2-4., Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Péter Ittzés
- Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Alkotmány u. 2-4., Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Andrew Jones
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Queens Buildings, 5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
| | - Renzo Kottmann
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Robert Kulawik
- Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS), Schloss Birlinghoven, 53757, Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Sonja Leidenberger
- Swedish Species Information Centre/ArtDatabanken, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Bäcklösavägen 10, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Cherian Mathew
- Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 6-8, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Norman Morrison
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Aleksandra Nenadic
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Abraham Nieva de la Hidalga
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Queens Buildings, 5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
| | - Matthias Obst
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gerard Oostermeijer
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth Paymal
- Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité (FRB), 195, rue Saint-Jacques, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Graziano Pesole
- Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics (IBBE), National Research Council (CNR), via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.,Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari "A. Moro", via Orabona, 1514, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Salvatore Pinto
- Stichting EGI (EGI.eu), Science Park 140, 1098, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Axel Poigné
- Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS), Schloss Birlinghoven, 53757, Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Francisco Quevedo Fernandez
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Queens Buildings, 5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
| | - Monica Santamaria
- Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics (IBBE), National Research Council (CNR), via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Hannu Saarenmaa
- SIB Labs, Joensuu Science Park, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Gergely Sipos
- Stichting EGI (EGI.eu), Science Park 140, 1098, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karl-Heinz Sylla
- Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS), Schloss Birlinghoven, 53757, Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Marko Tähtinen
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 17, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saverio Vicario
- Institute of Biomedical Technology (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), via Amendola 122/D, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Rutger Aldo Vos
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alan R Williams
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Kilburn Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Pelin Yilmaz
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
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