The recent little flurry of comment on computer based identification
systems for polychaetes is based on a very vague initial query. It is
not clear to me if the original questioner wants to develop new software
or if he/she wants to use existing software to ease polychaete
identifications. Whichever is the case, a good starting point is the
DELTA (= DEscriptive Language for TAxonomy) home page at
http://muse.bio.cornell.edu/delta/ Anyone contemplating development of
new software would do well to investigate what the DELTA team has
accomplished over many years. At the very least, the DELTA standard data
format should be supported by any taxonomic database/intelligent
system. There are other taxonomic database and identification systems
out there (try net searches on ALICE and PANDORA in the U.K, for
example), but I think most support the DELTA format for data files.
On the polychaete front, and in response to what Geoff Read wrote:
...
> based on the Delta method of descriptions for example. No polychaete
> datasets are publicly available or imminent yet though others will know
> more about that than I. ...
Well, I have some polychaete DELTA datasets in development. They are not
publicly available yet, but I like to think they are imminent! At
present I have about 12 polychaete families in various stages of
completion, and more underway. My project intends to complete
these DELTA databases for soft-bottom benthic polychaetes from
SE-Australia, with 2 goals:
1. to document taxa accurately from various environmental surveys
2. to facilitate accurate identifications in the future
The initial target audience is taxonomists and ecologists working with
polychaetes in southern Australia, but maybe others will find it useful
also, notably taxonomists doing global revisions who are looking for
summary information about the southern Australian fauna for inclusion in
revisions (I hope). I have broached this subject on the list before, but
I will say again that I hope the polychaete community out there will be
able to make some critical and constructive comments as I am able to make
databases available (family by family). And I hasten to add to those
who have already expressed an interest, please be patient, I haven't
forgotten!
I also wanted to comment briefly on the very pertinent words of
wisdom from Geoff and Helmut, to the effect that what is needed first are
good taxonomic revisions rather than new computer toys. Although this is
partly true, the two goals are complementary, they are NOT in conflict.
I use DELTA because it vastly simplifies taxonomic work, it forces me to
be more rigorous (not skipping characters, won't let me get away with
taxa that cannot be separated!), and it makes the results of that work
much more useful (I hope!). The huge benefits to users should be the
ability to have multiple starting points in an electronic key when making
identifications, and having all important information handy (like
character state glossaries etc). And it is easy to make a paper (or
html) version for those who want it. I know I sound like an evangelist,
but when you see a good thing ...
You can expect to hear from me again on this (in about a month), when I
have finished incorporating images into the first databases and have
talked to my museum's computer people about making files available
for downloading.
bye
Robin
_____________________________________________________________________
Robin Wilson rwilson at mov.vic.gov.au
Museum of Victoria
71 Victoria Crescent telephone 61-3 9284 0216
Abbotsford Victoria fax 61-3 9416 0475
Australia 3067
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