World Atlas of Biodiversity
http://stort.unep-wcmc.org/imaps/gb2002/book/viewer.htm
This is an outstanding new Web site from the United Nations Environment Programmes World Conservation Monitoring Center (UNEP-WCMC). Like other GIS-based programs, the features of this Web site can be useful in demonstrating spatial patterns of environmental problems. Users can choose from dozens of map layers (derived from biodiversity and related data) to superimpose on geographical maps of the planet on a global, regional, or even local scale. Manipulating the maps is relatively straightforward. For example, to explore the correlation between human population density and bird extinctions in North America, drag a box around the continent, select Human Population Density and Bird Extinctions from the map layer menu, and then click Refresh Map. One does not have to be familiar with GIS programs to use this Web site, but a quick look at the Help page should clarify any confusion regarding the site's toolbar icons or other features. Users should note that the graphics can make this site very slow to load, and no maps are currently available for the categories Diversity of Organisms and Biodiversity Through Time. [RS]
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Amedeo: Medical Literature Guide
http://www.amedeo.com/
This Web site from Amedeo, a medical information service, provides convenient literature updates free of charge via email. The registration process is quick and easy: simply select a research area of interest from an extensive list of options, choose from a list of relevant pre-selected journals, and fill out the contact information form. You will then receive a weekly email newsletter that lists newly published journal articles in your area of interest, along with links to downloadable abstracts for each citation. Judging by the site's sample newsletter, expect a straightforward list of citations, free from ads or other distractions. You can unsubscribe easily at any time. While Amedeo was created to primarily serve healthcare professionals, you do not need to be affiliated with a medical organization to use this service. Anyone wishing to keep current with medical issues should find this Web site very useful. [RS]
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Natural Sciences Research at the Bishop Museum
http://www.bishopmuseum.org/research/natsci/index.html
Learn about the latest in research at the Natural Sciences Department of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. This Web site provides a short overview of research being conducted in the fields of botany, entomology, geology, malacology, ichthyology, invertebrate zoology, and vertebrate zoology. The pages provided for each field of study offer general information about the collection, image galleries, and searchable data sets that may be useful research resources. Users should note that not all features are available for each discipline. For instance, no data is available for the invertebrate zoology collection, and its info page is currently under construction. [RS]
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Global Crop Pests Identification and Information
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/hortcrops/
This Web site from the Cornell Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development contains a newly developed prototype of the "Global Crop Pest Identification and Information Services in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)." Available in English and Spanish, this online guide aims to "increase crop pest diagnosis and IPM information capability among extensionists and farmers of developing countries." Users can search the site by crop or pest name; for example, clicking on a particular crop name will pull up detailed information regarding that crop's diseases and pest species, which in turn links to additional pages of information and photographs. This site is easy to use, and the photos should make identification a relatively easy task as well. In addition to extension agents and farmers, this Web site would be a useful pest identification guide for gardeners, as many of the crop species listed are garden variety vegetables. Users should be aware that this project is a work in progress, and therefore not all species listed have information available online at the moment. [RS]
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Lichen Determination Keys [.pdf]
http://www.bgbm.fu-berlin.de/sipman/keys/
Published by the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum (BGBM), Berlin-Dahlem, this Web site serves as on online guide to lichen identification. Users can choose from articulated identification keys for a large number of taxa, or follow links to keys organized by geographical region. There is also an interactive lichen identification database. The Web site has been recently updated to include a key for the genus Stereocaulon in Tropical America. Users should note that the keys listed are created by a number of different organizations, and thus vary in ease of use (some may not be available in English). The keys created by BGBM itself are simply presented and easy to follow, and should prove a useful resource for those pursuing lichen systematics. [RS]
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The Natural History Museum's Fish Specimen Collection
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/zoology/fish/index.html
This Web site, from the Department of Zoology at the Natural History Museum of London, contains an online database of its fish specimen collection. Users can search the database by taxonomic or geographic criteria, or by drill-down method (navigating through a hierarchical tree structure from broad categories to increasingly specific sub-categories). Helpful search strategy tips are provided. The site is straightforward in its presentation, and the search engines are easy to use. Users should be aware that the online database is a work in progress that currently lacks some of the information available in the paper record of the collection. [RS]
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Genomes and Machines
http://www.cs.tcd.ie/Francisco.Azuaje/genomes&machines.html
The Department of Computer Science at the University of Dublin-Trinity College provides this Web site as "an overview of the rapidly evolving field of bioinformatics," or the "discipline that generates computational tools, databases and methods to support genomic, molecular and medical research." Simply presented as a list of links organized by subject, this frequently updated Web site offers users a one-stop source for locating genomic and molecular biology databases, soft/hardware and service providers, courses and tutorials, journals, and more. This site is also reviewed in the September 6, 2002 Scout Report. [RS]
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New Findings on Citrus Canker
http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/citruscanker/
This Web site, currently featured on the home page of the American Phytopathological Society, contains a research report regarding the Asiatic citrus canker that has had devastating effects on Florida's citrus industry. The report, in a journal article format, thoroughly relates the natural history and current status of the disease, as well as detailing the methods and results of the (primarily genetic) experiments conducted in this study. One of the most appealing features of this Web site is the quality of the photos within the report. These photos can be viewed separately from the report in a slide show. While navigating this site is relatively straightforward, the lack of a table of contents can make finding your place in the body of the text somewhat confusing. [RS]
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