In the spirit of making identification tools (and the results of systematic
research generally) widely and freely available, the Australian Biological
Resources Study (ABRS) has released an online version of POLiKEY. An
information system for polychaete families and higher taxa
(Glasby/Fauchald). This work was originally to be published on CD ROM,
and appears in the literature as Glasby CJ & Fauchald K (2000). An
interactive key to the polychaete families of the world. CSIRO publishing :
Melbourne. Sorry for the premature announcement and possible confusion.
To use POLiKEY go to the POLiKEY page on the ABRS website
http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/about/publications/polikey/index.html
and follow the instructions for downloading POLiKEY. POLiKEY runs under
the interactive identification program Intkey, so you will first need to download
and install Intkey if it is not already on your computer. A link to Intkey is
provided.
POLikEY is not only a tool for identifying families and higher taxa, but
includes substantial information on the taxonomy, biology and ecology of
polychaetes. In Advanced mode POLiKEY operates like a database enabling
all sorts of queries relating to characters and taxa. For example, ''what is the
difference between a terebellid and a trichobranchid?" (there are 3
differences) or "what polychaete families have hooded hooks?" (9 of them!).
Hopefully, POLiKEY will be a useful resource for polychaete biologists,
educators, and anyone involved in polychaete identification.
Please let me know of any problems accessing POLiKEY as well as
suggestions on ways it can be improved. We are aware that the jpg colour
images take a while (up to a minute) to download, but this should not affect
the identification process which utilises smaller gif image files; the problem is
being addressed.
Enjoy!
Chris
Dr Chris Glasby
Curator of Worms
Natural Sciences
Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
GPO Box 4646
Darwin NT 0801
AUSTRALIA
Email: chris.glasby at nt.gov.au
Ph: +61-8-8999 8108
Fax: +61-8-8999 8289
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