Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research - Puerto Rico

ADEQUATE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The scientists, the LEF-LTER Program, and the USDA International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) must receive adequate acknowledgement for the use of data by other scientists, and the LEF LTER program must receive two copies of any publication using that data. One copy will be placed at the IITF library and one copy will stay with the LEF LTER Data Manager. A suggested format for this acknowledgement will be distributed along with the requested data.

ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION AND TRANSFORMATION OF DATA

It is the responsibility of the scientist to assure that the documentation and transformation of their data will be adequate to permit data to be used by scientists not involved in its original collection. The Data Manager will make sure that the investigator complies with this requirement when filing the data set with Data Management.

DATA QUALITY

The investigators are responsible for certifying the quality of their data. Data Management is responsible for setting the proper standards to assure the quality of data when transferring and disseminating data.

COST OF MAKING DATA AVAILABLE

The cost of making data available will be covered directly by the person requesting the data except in those cases of reciprocal sharing or collaborative research. An estimate of the cost will be given to the person requesting the data prior to its delivery in those cases where the manipulation of the data and generation of the report have a high cost. A document explaining our pricing policy is available upon request.

INTERPRETATION OF POLICIES

The LEF LTER Data Manager will be responsible for enforcing the above policies. Disputes arising with regard to these policies will be resolved by the Principal Investigators. Requests for resolution of a dispute should be submitted to both Principal Investigators in writing. The Principal Investigators will acknowledge receipt of the request and will reach a determination within 90 days. Such determination will be communicated to the parties involved in writing.