China has fallen behind in data sharing.A scientific data sharing platform is needed in China to create a big data pool for large-scale comprehensive ecological research by providing undisrupted flow and sharing of data resources.To meet the increasing demand for more data-intensive ecological research,the data sharing platform should improve the quality of both data and services and handle data heteroge-neity across disciplines at a higher level.As data transparency and insecurity have been major barriers to data sharing and exchange,data confidentiality and security have to be taken into consideration by gov-ernmental organizations for building a comprehensive data sharing platform.In addition,it is necessary to enhance the efficiency of data sharing among the field or laboratory ecologists in China and beyond.
