Scott's Botanical Links--July 1996

July 30, 1996 - Biota of North America Program (BONAP)

The Biota of North America Program (BONAP) provides assistance with biogeography, taxonomy, and nomenclature as well as data on a variety of biological fields including rarity, weediness, nativity, insectivory, plant habit, habitat, duration, biogeography, hardiness, medical value, horticultural values, etc. BONAP presently tracks nearly 80,000 accepted taxa. At the site are search engines A Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland (1994). This database also includes state-level distributions of each accepted taxon and county-level phytogeography for 26 of the 50 U.S. states. (****)

July 29, 1996 - Virus Bulletin

Now, you may be asking, why would I feature a computer virus bulletin? Of course, because I got one! Stoned.Angelina! It is an inocuous boot sector virus, but if you are cruising the Internet you should take reasonable precautions. You can get computer viruses by executing a program file, running a macro and through Word for Windows *.doc files and Excel spreadsheets -- if and only if they are infected already. Very few purchased programs have viruses (watch for bootleg and unlicensed third world copies), and noone "just comes down" with one -- it's always from prior infections. The good news: picture files can't transmit them, nor can Web pages (HTML) I found and cured mine using McAfee Virus Software (there are many others that work well also). This site has a listserv, database, links to virus detection/removal software, monthly publication, infection reports and late breaking news. Virus Bulletin is edited by Ian Whalley (Editor) and Megan Skinner (Assistant Editor) at Abingdon Science Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3YS, ENGLAND (****)

July 25, 1996 - EDU2: BOTANY

A list of botany educational resources - that's all. This is updated frequently and has some good links. A list of all topics covered at this site is at EDU2: Level 1. This is the site of E.J. Inglis-Arkell at West Coast Online, Inc. (***)

July 24, 1996 - Indices Nominum Supragenericorum Plantarum Vascularium

With the cooperation of the National Agricultural Library the Indices Nominum Supragenericorum Plantarum Vascularium is made available publicly via the Internet. The project is a joint effort between the International Association for Plant Taxonomy and the Norton-Brown Herbarium at the University of Maryland. Its purpose is to capture all valid and legitimate extant vascular plants names proposed above the rank of genus. (****)

July 23, 1996 - Journey into the World of Cladistics

This is a tutorial site on the use of cladistics--a method of objectively analyzing systematic data. Using cladistic techniques allows data to be interpreted hylogenetically and possibly shedding light on evolutionary processes in a given group. This is a well-constructed and scholarly introduction to this technique. By UC-Berkeley Museum of Paleontology. (****)

July 22, 1996 - WWW Dictionary of Scientific Instrumentation

The instruments used to conduct scientific research are an integral part of science. This site defines and gives examples of hundreds of them. The site is weak on graphics but strong on completeness of its listings. Find a method using the find key on your browser, then follow hyperlinks. Science Hypermedia, Copyright © 1996 by Brian M. Tissue. (***1/2)

July 19, 1996 - Introduction to Microscopy and Photomicrography

Part of every general botany experience is microscopy. This site provides a scholarly introduction to the different types of microscopy used at this site (principally polarizing and differential interference contrast (DIC)), an overview of setting up a microscope, taking pictures, sample preparation, creative photomicrography and links to other microscopy sites. The descriptions are scientifically accurate and useful for education. This site is © 1995 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. (****)

July 18, 1996 - W³TROPICOS Database

This site provides access to the Missouri Botanical Garden's VAST (VAScular Tropicos) nomenclatural database. As of the current release, there are over 750,000 entries with name and reference data. Name data include plant name and authors, group and family placement, place and date of publication, type information, any basionyms, other uses of that name, synonyms, homonyms and infraspecific names. References include author(s), date of publication, title of the article, journal or book title, volume and page numbers and keywords. Site constructed and maintained by Missouri Botanical Garden. (****)

July 17, 1996 - Material Safety Data Sheet Searches

Remember how lax the use of chemicals was in the past? This is the case no longer. Here is a site for Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on a wide variety of chemicals and links to other such sites. This provides much of the information required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) on individual chemicals. The site does not claim to provide information on all chemicals, just an easier interface. This information database was compiled by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center of NOAA. (****)

July 15, 1996 - UCMP Glossary of Botany Terms

Yet another general botany glossary. This features many of the most commonly encountered terms with many natural history terms also included. This is not a surprise since it is on the UC Museum of Palenontology server at Berkeley. Definitions are hyperlinked; still a few gaps to be filled as of today. (***1/2)

July 12, 1996 - Bio 332 Biology of Plants

I feature this as a model home page for a beginning botany class syllabus with electronic info on lectures, readings and laboratories. Many of the sites are worthy of their own links, and in fact, I have used them. This approach has considerable possibilites in distance learning although I believe this was developed with local students in mind. This site was created by Ross Koning, Dept of Biology, East Connecticut State University. (****)

July 11, 1996 - Monocots versus Dicots

A scholarly discussion of the two classes of the Anthophyta -- or the flowering plants, featuring a brief history of the two groups, the most important characteristics distinguishing the two classes (there are many more than those listed), information about flowering plants that seem to defy this classification, and frequently asked questions about monocots and dicots. Part of a vascular plant morphology collection, this is also appropriate for a beginning botany class. (****)

July 10, 1996 - Morphology of the Anthophyta

Part of a vascular plant morphology collection, this site is an overview of the largest group of plants -- the flowering plants, which include almost all of our major edible crops and all of our farm crops. Attached sites explain more on the systematics, life history, ecology and fossil details of the plant. Especially noteworthy is the more detailed More on Morphology section which defines the important structural features of Anthophyta -- all floral characteristics, ending with the fruit. Not encyclopedic, but a nice overview! (***1/2)

July 9, 1996 - The Naked Seeds of Pinus

There are few life cycles as difficult to portray as those of the gynmosperms. Ross does a great job here in producing scientifically-correct representations of each cell and organ involved, as well as labeling all of the layers! This is part of beginning botany lecture resource on the Web. This site was created by Ross Koning, Dept of Biology, East Connecticut State University. (****)

July 8, 1996 - Lower Vascular Plants

This page presents a chart comparing the major sporophytic and gametophytic characteristics of Psilophyta, Lycophyta, Equisetophyta (=Sphenophyta) and Pteridophyta. This is part of beginning botany lecture resource on the Web. I include it as a morphology resource. This site was created by Ross Koning, Dept of Biology, East Connecticut State University. (****)

July 5, 1996 - Life Cycles of the Pterophyta

This is a nice model for diagrams on the life cycles of the ferns. A well drawn life history graphic is given with detailed descriptions (nice!) and at the end is a link to the University of Wisconsin slide collection. A nice start. Developing this as a point-and-click map, with specific photo links, might help to show students what these actually look like in real life without having to negotiate UW's menus of pictures. (***)

July 4, 1996 - Independence Day

July 3, 1996 - Life Cycles of the Bryophyta

This is a nice model for diagrams on the life cycles of the bryophytes, as typified by a moss. A well drawn life history graphic is given with detailed descriptions (nice!) and at the end is a link to the University of Wisconsin slide collection. Developing this as a point-and-click map, with specific photo links, might help to show students what these actually look like in real life without having to negotiate UW's menus of pictures. (***)

July 2, 1996 - Mazon Creek Plant Fossils

This is a photographic resource for Pennsylvanian plants (and animals) from the famous Mazon Creek locality in Illinois. These are remarkably well preserved impression fossils from ironstone concretions. The ironstone formed around the dead plant (or animal) part preserving its form and some of the original carbon. The fossils shown include lycopods, sphenophytes, ferns, seed ferns and other gymnosperms (to come) from 300 million years ago. This site is run by the Illinois State Museum. (****)

July 1, 1996 - Morphology of the Sphenophyta

Part of a vascular plant morphology collection, this is a new site which complements and extends the older Introduction to the Sphenophyta. Attached sites explain more on the systematics, life history, ecology and fossil details of the plant. This features excellent photomicrographs and detail. There is also a link to the ancestral Trimerophytes, from which they and the majority of the extant vascular plants are derived. (****)

Past, past links (by date):

2006: January

2005: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2003: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2002: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2001: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2000: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

1999: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

1998: January*, February*, March*, April*, May*, June*, July, August, September, October, November, December   (*Leigh's links)

1997: January, February, March, April, May, June, September*, October*, November*, December*    (*Leigh's links)

1996: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Or search by: Subject Index

http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/bot-linx/jul96.shtml