Eco-informatics is an emerging field that integrates ecosystem science, computer science, and mathematics. The scope of information needed to understand ecological systems is enormous. For example, conservation and management decisions commonly rely on data as diverse as climate records, changes in biodiversity over space and time, genetic structure of populations, and much more. Biologically-inspired computation techniques such as fuzzy logic, cellular automata, artificial neural networks, evolutionary algorithms, Bayesian methods, and adaptive agents are employed to incorporate these varied data into cohesive models.
Breakthroughs in basic and applied ecology will come from the analysis and synthesis of the huge and growing body of knowledge about the environment. Data sharing and access to technology are crucial elements to breaking new ground in ecology and creating solutions to environmental problems. Ecoinformatics enhance the ability to discover, access, integrate, and apply the ecological and other data needed to facilitate analysis and synthesis in ecology, greatly enhancing our understanding of ecosystems.