[NHCOLL-L:3972] RE: favourite online identification key?

[Stefan Sommer]

Dear Julia,

We built two simple, dichotomous keys when I was working on the "Digital Atlas 
of Idaho". We referred to them as "visual keys" since they were based on easy 
to see characteristics of the different species. These were built in simple 
html coding. One key was for regional butterfly species: 
http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/insects/insefr.htm

The other was for regional dragonfly species: 
http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/insects/drgnfly/idkey/keyfr.htm

I hope these help.

Best Wishes!

Stefan


Dr. Stefan Sommer, Director
Colorado Plateau Biodiversity Center
Northern Arizona University
Campus Box 5640
Flagstaff, AZ  86011

Stefan.Sommer at nau.edu
(928) 523-4463



Dear all
 
I am looking for suggestions for favourite online or other computer-based 
identification keys.
This is for a new project with the Royal BC Museum (Canada) to create online 
keys which are primarily aimed at the general public (or that part of the 
general public which is interested in species-level identification of their 
local fauna). The first two projects are grasses and chitons (molluscs) -- the 
idea is to use a platform which can accommodate both of these and others in 
future.
Just to be clear, I am *not* interested in being pointed to software (Lucid, 
Xper2, etc etc etc) but instead to specific, working and available examples 
that you have used and would recommend as a model for presentation and 
interactivity.
If you have used a key -- for any group of fauna or flora -- that you would 
recommend as a model for this project, can you please let me know?
 
Thanks to all in advance!
 
Cheers,
 
Julia
 
--
Julia Sigwart, PhD
Collections-based Biology in Dublin
University College Dublin &
National Museum of Ireland
http://www.ucd.ie/cobid/sigwart.htm

Dr. Stefan Sommer, Director
Colorado Plateau Biodiversity Center
Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research
Northern Arizona University
Campus Box 5640
Flagstaff, AZ 86011

NAU Office:  (928) 523-4463

Stefan.Sommer at NAU.edu