Identification Keys and EOL

Leo ShapiroSpecies Pages Group, Rapid Responselshapiro@eol.org

Identification Keys and EOL

• Potential for ID resources on EOL• Initiate some discussion re. what role you see for

keys on EOL and how you think they might best be implemented

Identification Keys, EOL, and You

For keys from other sources, you could make an “Identification Resources” subchapter on your LifeDesk where you could add links to keys or other resouces

Identification Keys, EOL, and You

Ideally, help EOL establish a partnership with your preferred key-building resource so that links to new keys could be made automatically for all taxa for which the new key is relevant

Identification Keys: The DreamA website that has easily accessible, easy-to-use,

very flexible, well illustrated, highly authoritative, and ultra-up-to-date identification keys to all organisms from all parts of the world

Appropriate keys for target audiences ranging from elementary school students to taxonomic specialists

EOL is a natural outlet for these resources, particularly if we are trying to build our value for working scientists

Identification Keys: The RealityIt’s awfully hard to build keys that meet all—or

even any—of these criteria:easily accessible

flexible, easy to use

well-illustrated

authoritative and up-to-date

appropriate geographic scope

But it’s easier than ever before!

The Universe of Identification Keys Dichotomous keys

I love them…but I also • still listen to music almost exclusively on CDs

• have never paid a utility bill online

• have never “friended” someone on Facebook

197719701969 1978

The Universe of Identification KeysDichotomous keys- So 20th Century!

Matrix-based keys• are based on a matrix of taxa and character states• allow the user to score characters in any order• do not require that the matrix be completely filled in by

the key builder—and certainly not by the user• generally provide a very large number of paths to any

particular taxon• are potentially far more tolerant of user uncertainty and

error

Interactive Matrix Key Building Tools

Lucid: http://www.lucidcentral.com/

Discover Life: http://www.discoverlife.org/

Many others (e.g., see handout)

Please share with us your own experiences with these or other tools!

Discover Life Online ID Keys

Building and using keys is free and (relatively) straightforward; very flexible

Anyone with web access can build a key; anyone with web access can use a key made available on DL (can download, too)

Can provide character state illustrations

Extremely easy to update or correct errors

When building or using keys, overscoring avoids mistaken taxon elimination due to variation in organisms or interpretation

EOL, ID KEYS, AND YOU

EOL is a work-in-progress

All you Rubenstein Fellows and mentors are pioneers in the effort to quickly take it to the next level -- we need your ideas and input!