Defining linkages between the GSC and NSF's LTER program: how the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) relates to GCDML...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Data Science

Background:

• The Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) network utilizes the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) as its standard for high-quality, standardized metadata, crucial for interdisciplinary research and data synthesis.
• The Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) developed Minimum Information about a Genome/Metagenome Sequence (MIGS/MIMS) and Genomic Contextual Data Markup Language (GCDML) for genomic data standardization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship and potential integration between EML and GCDML metadata standards.
• To foster collaboration between LTER and GSC for developing common tools and training for metadata cataloging.
• To enhance EML for better accommodation of genomics data.

Main Methods:

• Presentation of EML at the GSC workshop.
• Exploration of a crosswalk between GCDML and EML.
• Discussion of collaborative efforts for tool development and training.

Main Results:

• A potential crosswalk between GCDML and EML was identified.
• Collaboration was proposed to develop a common metadata cataloging designer's tool.
• LTER's experience with EML adoption was shared to aid GSC's adoption of GCDML.
• Integration of GCDML schema into EML was considered.

Conclusions:

• Further collaboration between LTER and GSC is expected to enhance metadata standards for both ecological and genomic data.
• Developing user-friendly tools and training is key for successful metadata standard adoption.
• Enhancing EML to include GCDML elements will improve genomics data management within LTER.