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Welcome to the Fall 2010 issue of Databits wherein 18 authors contribute from 11 sites and 2 institutes in 3 countries. Seven relevant and insightful feature articles relate to growth and refinement of systems. All three editorials share the theme of continuous change. And both the suggested readings reflect on past adaptations. Even the two tools recommended prove their worth in how they handle revision.

Keeping pace with evolving standards in information management may seem like “it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.” – Lewis Carroll. This ongoing challenge is captured in the Red Queen Principle, proposed by the late professor emeritus L. van Valen in 1973: “for an evolutionary system, continuing development is needed just in order to maintain its fitness relative to the systems it is co-evolving with.” The LTER Network has remained relevant through 30 years of change and was just last May recognized for its contributions by the American Institute of Biological Sciences. We continue to raise expectations for our practice. Within the large scope of information management we may feel small and progress may appear slow. Databits captures a twice annual snapshot of information management co-evolving with Network needs. Now that all years’ issues are gathered within one site, the progress of LTER IM practice may be viewed like time-lapse photography. Enjoy!

DataBits continues as a semi-annual electronic publication of the Long Term Ecological Research Network. It is designed to provide a timely, online resource for research information managers and is supported by rotating co-editors.

—– Co-editors: M. Gastil-Buhl (MCR), Philip Tarrant (CAP)

Table of Contents

Featured Articles
Coweeta Supports Citizen Science Initiative; Collaboratively Redevelops and Piblishes Long-Term Biomonitoring DatabaseJohn F. Chamblee1
Implementing ProjectDB at the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTERWade Sheldon, John Carpenter2
IMC Governance Working Group: Developing a Terms of ReferenceKaren Baker, Nicole Kaplan and Eda Melendez-Colom4
Addressing Scaling Issues Associated with Data AccessJames Conners5
Dataset Attributes and the LTER IMC: A First StepCorinna Gries, Wade Sheldon, Karen Baker6
Note on Category FormationKaren Baker7
Using the OBOE Ontology to Describe Dataset AttributeMargaret O’Brien7
Commentary
Enactment and the Unit RegistryMason Kortz10
Transitions and ComparisonsLynn Yarmey11
Virtualization, Thin Clients, and Cloud Computing: Potential uses in LTERJohn Porter11
News Bits
2010 IMC Annual Meeting, Kellogg Biological StationMarharet O’Brien and Don Henshaw12
GIS Working Group holds successful workshop at HJ Andrews Experimental ForestTheresa Valentine13
On Site with TFRIBenjamin Leinfelder14
Good Tools and Programs
Making the Work Flow with KeplerJohn Porter, Chau-Chin Lin, Jennifer Holm, Ben Leinfelder15
SchemaSpy: No dust will collect on this Database DocumentationM. Gastil-Buhl16
Good Reads
Evolution of Collaboration in EcologyKaren Baker and Eda Melendez-Colom17
Healthy Tensions, Challenges in Achieving Data SharingM. Gastil-Buhl17
FAQ
Is there a preferred stable URL for the EML schema?Mark Servilla, Margareet O’Brien, Wade Sheldon18
Calendar18