ABSTRACT: Computer-based media constitute an ideal tool for disseminating data concerning protist biodiversity. Interactive guides can combine micrographs, illustrations, text and links to molecular data. A standardized web-based guide could collate information collected by researchers and create a mechanism for ecologists to identify taxa. Web-based guides have advantages: they are easily modified and expanded; they are easy to distribute; they can include a search engine to replace a dichotomous key; they can be downloaded to run on stand-alone computers; and they can be structured to provide printed information. We have developed a model for a guide that incorporates these methods of disseminating information. Using this model, we indicate how the web can provide information and act as a tool to identify taxa. We then use a guide to the planktonic ciliates, based on this model, as an example (www.liv.ac.uk/ciliate). Finally we present data from a survey that reviewed our model website; it indicated that the site was well received. Ultimately, we offer this guide as a template to be applied to other taxa.

KEY WORDS: Biodiversity · Ciliate · Internet · Key · Plankton · Taxonomy

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Published in AME Vol. 27, No. 2 (2002) on March 15
Print ISSN: 0948-3055; Online ISSN: 1616-1564. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2002