The potential for scientific collaboration in virtual ecosystems

This article explores the potential benefits of creating virtual ecosystems from real‐world data. These ecosystems are intended to be realistic virtual representations of environments that may be costly or difficult to access in person. They can be constructed as 3D worlds rendered from stereo video data, augmented with scientific data, and then deployed online for use. The application of virtual ecosystems stretches from interdisciplinary scientific research that may not occur otherwise to providing science students with an environment to conduct studies and virtual field trips in that they would otherwise not have access to.