Distribution maps on demand

[MARK at]

I am reading with interest the emails on Distribution maps and on-
line floras/faunas as at the moment I have been working on an
online presentation of the Umbelliferae for the Flora of Bhutan. I am
particularly concerned about making available in electronic form all
the data gathered during the preparation of the work that is not
included in the printed Flora.

There is a great deal of specimen data (over 3500 specimens) that I
have incorporated into my PANDORA database and I am working
on a system to use these to generate distribution maps on
demand. The system is still in development and many of the back
links, titles etc need to be polished up. I was not going to go public
until these had been finalised, but given the recent interest in
distribution maps on TAXACOM I thought some of you may like a
preview.

The page that we are testing can be found at:

http://www.rbge.org.uk/data/URC/bhutanumbels/Pleurospermum.ht
m

Distribution maps are produced from the specimens, and details of
the underlying specimens can be seen by clicking the dots on the
map. Follow the links to get full collecting details of the specimens
and the full determination history.

Total specimen lists can also be accessed, as can full taxonomic
information (see Pleurospermum amabile for a working example).
We will be building in images (plant portraits, line drawings, photos
of types, etc.) but this will take some time. At the moment
traditional dichomous keys are included, but interactive
identification tools should also be provided in future systems.

This site is very much still in development with many 'features'
needing attention. It is being developed in Netscape, but we are
looking into compatability with other browsers. We know that at
least one of the older Internet Explorers will not support the
javascript or java applet that is needed.

[Back links can be achieved by bring up a menu by right clicking in
the window]

Regards Mark
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Dr Mark F.Watson
Umbelliferae/Apiaceae and Flora of China

Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh, EH3 5LR
SCOTLAND, U.K.

Telephone: 0131 248 2828
Facsimile: 0131 248 2901

Electronic Mail: m.watson at rbge.org.uk
Institute Homepage: http://www.rbge.org.uk
Araliales Homepage: http://www.rbge.org.uk/data/URC/arc.htm
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