interactive keys and others

[Snow, Neil]

In my mind there no doubt that interactive keys greatly accelerate the rate of identification.  I was a committed skeptic back in 97 and 98 when I first became aware of their existence but that changed quickly once I started using them.  Out of curiosity, have any readers of TAXACOM who have made an earnest attempt to use an interactive experienced otherwise?  NS

-----Original Message-----
From: Taxacom Discussion List [mailto:TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU] On Behalf Of Heike Vibrans
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 8:26 AM
To: TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU
Subject: Re: [TAXACOM] interactive keys and others

I was wondering (and it would be important for my own
work):

Are there any quantitative data or publications out there
on the relative merits of different ways of identifying
plants (perhaps comparing conventional keys, interactive
keys and flower-color-sorted pictures, as in many popular
field guides)? In terms of % correct identifications and
time necessary? Perhaps even distinguishing between
trained botanists and laypeople?

Regards,

Heike

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Dra. Heike Vibrans L.
Laboratorio de Etnobotánica
Programa de Botánica
Colegio de Postgraduados en Ciencias Agrícolas
km 35.5 carr. México-Texcoco
56230 Montecillo
Estado de México, Mexico

Tel. +52 (595) 95 20 200 Ext. 1335 (directo), 1331
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Correo electrónico: heike at colpos.mx (trabajo),
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