###### Abstract  
Collaborating between ecosystem ecologists and engineers have led to impressive progress in developing complex models of biogeochemical fluxes in response to global climate change. Ecology and engineering iteratively inform and transform each other in these efforts. Nested data streams from local sources, adjacent networks, and remote sensing sources together magnify the capacity of ecosystem ecologists to observe systems in near real-time and address questions at temporal and spatial scales that were previously unobtainable. We describe our research experiences working in a Costa Rican rainforest ecosystem with the challenges presented by constant high humidity, 4300 mm of annual rainfall, flooding, small invertebrates entering the tiniest openings, stinging insects, and venomous snakes. Over the past two decades, we faced multiple challenges and learned from our mistakes to develop a broad program of ecosystem research at multiple levels of integration. This program involved integrated networks of diverse sensors on a series of canopy towers linked to multiple belowground soil sensor arrays that could transport sensor data streams from the forest directly to an off-site location via a fiber optic cable. In our commentary, we highlight three components of our work: (1) the eddy flux measurements using canopy towers; (2) the soil sensor arrays for measuring the spatial and temporal patterns of CO\({}_{2}\) and O\({}_{2}\) fluxes at the soil-atmosphere interface; and (3) focused investigations of the ecosystem impact of leaf-cutter ants as \"ecosystem engineers\" on carbon fluxes.  
t 13 June 202331 October 202331 October 20236 November 202  
of global change. The key to these advances has been the innovative application of cyber infrastructure linking advanced instruments, computing systems, data storage systems, and repositories [1; 2]. These advances often have come, however, with significant challenges, particularly under extreme environmental conditions.  
Sensor networks coupled with associated cyberinfrastructure can provide a powerful combination of distributed sensing capacity, internet and satellite communication, and computational tools that lend themselves to countless applications in ecological research [3; 4]. Moreover, new designs for sensor networks allow for the observation of system fluxes in near time and real time based on incoming data from local sources, nested or adjacent networks, and remote sensing data streams. These advances are providing a new and better understanding of dynamic ecological systems by revealing previously unobservable phenomena and by enhancing the potential for the development of second-generation ecological questions that we have not yet addressed [4].  
Additionally, new observational and experimental advancements are available for the first time, enabling scientists to address challenging questions using enhanced spatial and temporal sampling. These powerful innovations can deliver: (1) full four-dimensional access to the environment with long-lived, continuously operating, stationary and mobile sensor nodes suspended in the forest canopy; (2) self-organized, standards-based, broadband wireless networks and software systems, permitting broadband access to sensor nodes; and (3) the integration of remote sensor data sources with existing GIS database assets to provide a comprehensive, continuous, online portal for access to embedded networked sensor data.