Development Status and Prospects of Biodiversity Informatics in China

Driven by computer science, artificial intelligence and other technologies, biodiversity informatics has gradually developed into a data intensive scientific research paradigm. Internationally, biodiversity informatics has made great progress in the construction of large data platform (species checklist, specimen digitization, literature, color photos, public scientific data), online data analysis and modeling methods, interdisciplinary integration and data products. In recent 20 years, China's biodiversity informatics has developed rapidly. By combing the concept, development process and discipline frontier of biodiversity informatics, this paper focuses on the achievements of China's biodiversity informatics in database construction, special platform and international cooperation. The rapid development of biodiversity informatics in China has changed the weak situation of digital biological data in Asia. Nevertheless, the development of biodiversity informatics in China still needs to be strengthened: (1) Attach importance to the integration of biodiversity big data resources to form a more powerful comprehensive information platform; (2) Increase data sharing efforts. At present, the sharing level of data in the whole Asia is very different from that in Europe and the United States; (3) Establish the connection between big data platform and data source. Only continuous data source can keep the data updated; (4) Strengthen capacity-building in biodiversity informatics, especially in data mining. (5) Strengthen regional and international cooperation. Only through the accumulation of theoretical knowledge and accurate grasp of the problem, together with the collection, integration and analysis of data, can we really answer scientific problems and realize the development of biodiversity informatics.