Scott's Botanical Links--September 1999

September 29, 1999 - MaizeDB: the Maize Genome Database

This server from the University of Missouri is the premier site for information about corn genomics. The site features search engines for focused searches, full text, name & class, BACS/YACs, ESTs, genes, gene products and offers images, loci, maps, persons conducting the research, probes, QTL, references, SSR primers, stocks, a stock center, STSs, traits, variations, conferences, a featured site and related links. This site is designed principally for research, but is also useful for hands-on demonstration of work-in-progress for the classroom. Supported by USDA, NSF and the University of Missouri. (****) -SR (Nominated by Terry Conley, Oklahoma City University)

September 28, 1999 - WA Native Plant Page

Western Australian plants are distinctive and striking, as clearly illustrated on this site, currently with representatives of 16 families. For those who have not visited Australia, the Myrtaceae, Proteaceae and Mimosaceae are particularly conspicuous natives. The images are medium-sized JPGs (~500 pixels wide) accompanied with a habit description, file size and a phonetic key to pronouncing the Latin species name. A very visual site by Ben Richardson. (****) -SR

September 27, 1999 - Yahoo!'s Botany Listings

With 42 listings as of today, the Yahoo! collection of botany links spans from scientific & gardening organizations to species (Arabidopsis thaliana) & genus & family sites, to particular plant habits (aquatic and carnivourous to name two). This site is "just links." Yahoo! relies heavily on nomination, but it is a system that has worked well. There is a lot here, but if you are looking for a particular botanical topic, this may have what you need. (***1/2) -SR

September 24, 1999 - Phylogeny and Reconstructing Phylogenetic Trees

Constructing phylogenetic trees is a objective method for explaining the phylogeny of species or other taxa using a simple charting method. This is a site that offers a demo (and code) for two Java applets that run on the viewer's browser. Mutations and reconstruction algorithms are discussed. For those who want to learn how phylogenies are constructed, this is a very interesting site. Site by David E. Joyce, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Clark University, Worcester, MA (***1/2) -SR

September 23, 1999 - Why Leaves Change Color

This site explains why leaves change color and fall during the autumn in terms of pigments, physiological triggers and plant function. This is well suited for a beginning undergraduate or high school class, covering the basic phenomena involved and presenting a nicely illustrated one page site. By USDA Forest Service, St. Paul Field Office. (****) -SR

September 22, 1999 - Major Biomes of the World

This site covers the classification and distribution of the major biomes, describing their features at a high school to undergraduate level. Study hints and critical thinking exercises follow the units. A page also covers the module's objectives, key geographical concepts, materials needed, activities and time requirements. This well-illustrated and informative site introduces many fundamental ecological concepts. Site developed by Susan L. Woodward, Department of Geography, Radford University, Radford, VA. (****) -SR

September 21, 1999 - Peter Bostock's Botanical Latin Home Page

Peter Bostock is a botanist ("deep into ferns"), a long-time programmer and a Botanical Latin enthusiast who has written a freeware Botanical Latin program, TRANSLAT. Available for the PC in DOS and WINDOWS format, it will perform useful (self-described as 'informed brute force') Latin translations. Since botanists still use Latin to describe new species, this could be a useful tool for systematists. By Peter D. Bostock, Queensland Department of Environment, Australia. (***1/2) -SR

September 20, 1999 - Search Engine Colossus

If you have ever wanted to find a particular web site in another country, this would be the best place to start. There are over 80 countries and 11 topic sites currently indexed. Many of the sites are in the native language of the country, so these search engines will be sure to expand one's breadth of sites. A wealth of lesser known search engines are also given here. A very complete site by Bryan Strome, Canada. (****) -SR

September 17, 1999 - Garden Forever for Gardeners of All Ages and Abilities

This site is dedicated to making the joys of gardening available to all. Stories for young children and strategies to involve them in gardenwork are balanced by advice on "not overdoing" in the garden and ways of making the routine chores easier on one's body. This is a nicely written introductory guide that has a lot of reading material, insightful articles, tips and links. Site by Bev Mitchell, Editor of Gardenforever.Com. (***) -SR

September 16, 1999 - Nature Science Update

Nature Science Update advertises that it delivers "the latest research reported by Nature's science writing team." At the site, a very diverse range of science stories is given, complete with a search engine and archives extending back much of two years. Unlike many news sites, these links appear stable and thus useful on course sites. Nature Science Update is a feature of the online version of the journal, Nature. (****) -SR (thanks to Terry Conley, Oklahoma City University for suggesting this worthwhile site!)

September 14, 1999 - The Mushroom Genus Laccaria in North America

This website features an introduction, species, evolutionary tree, taxonomic key, other species, specimens examined and references to the genus Laccaria. In the taxonomic key, images of each character state in the dichotomous key are shown and hyperlinked to the next character. Explore the site; most everything is very attractively hyperlinked. Based on a monograph by Dr. Gregory M. Mueller, Department of Botany, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. (****) -SR

September 13, 1999 - ARS Image Gallery

The Agricultural Research Service of the USDA has a modest library of images on plants, lab research, field research, crops, illustrations, fruits & veggies, education, insects and animals in three sizes: thumbnail, in-line (~250 X 200 pixels) and full screen (~640 X 480 pixels). The images are high quality JPGs available free for downloading and instructional use. Images are selected by thumbnail image (a label should appear when the mouse is over the image and clicking on it gives the inline image) or search engine. This site is distinct from the USDA Plants Database collection (featured in October 1997). Site by ARS, USDA. (****) -SR

September 10, 1999 - Virtual Foliage Home Page

I first featured this as a "gopher" site on April 9, 1996; this is the web replacement site, although the navigation hasn't changed much. Thousands of images have been culled from the UW Botany Department teaching collection on general botany, dendrology, fungi, plant systematics, and the vegetation of Wisconsin. Images are hierarchically organized in directories (e.g., Phylum, Class, Family, etc.) They also sell CDs with expanded utility and narration, which is minimal on the web version. As I said in my previous review, this is a remarkable resource for students and teachers. Site by Mike Clayton, University of Wisconsin. (***1/2) -SR

September 9, 1999 - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)

This massive national database site includes plant species (by growth habit), wildlife species, Kuchler potential natural vegetation types and a fire terms glossary. For each of the numerous entries, there is an introductory section, distribution & occurrence, value & use, botanical & ecological characteristics, fire ecology, fire effects and a full list of research references. This is a valuable site for both instruction and research. Site by USDA Forest Service. (****) -SR

September 8, 1999 - Wildflowers

This site was first featured on May 7, 1996, but disappeared in early 1997. I am glad to see it back, though a lot of the content is now at GardenWeb. The Wildflowers site includes wildflower forums, a calendar of events, wildflower dealers, native plant gardens & collections, native plant societies, woodlands FAQ and a glossary of botanical terms. This site is by Gary Lipe. (***) -SR

September 7, 1999 - Greenbuilder Articles

This series of articles was written by the City of Austin's Green Builder Program staff on a wide range of sustainability issues. Particularly interesting entries are on the use of low water requiring landscaping methods, including xeriscaping, that are well adapted to urban environments increasingly hit by warmer drier summers. This is part of a larger site by Bill Christensen, sysop and environmental editor of Sustainable Sources Online. (***1/2) -SR

September 6, 1999 - Labor Day

A day off in the US!! (****)

September 3, 1999 - WWW-VL Biotechnology

The biotechnology site of the WWW-VL (World Wide Web Virtual Library) has sites on education, sources of information, publication, employment, pharmaceuticals, meetings, products and services. Part of the WWW-VL project, this is one of a wide range of directories that descended from the list of sites created by Tim Berners-Lee, who wrote "http." Site by Cato Research Ltd. (***1/2) -SR

September 2, 1999 - Birth of the Internet

According to many, the Internet was born with the connection of two UCLA computers across a laboratory on September 2, 1969, as part of a project to decentralize the computer systems of the US. Thus, ARPANET was born and connected up to 256 computers before its next incarnation. An MCI executive contests this date as only two computers were linked, hardly a network. I disagree. We credit Alexander Graham Bell with the invention of the telephone when there were only two phones, and the Wright brothers for sustained flight into a headwind for about half a minute; I think they earned this. This is part of a larger site, LearnTheNet, by Michael Lerner Productions. (***1/2) -SR

September 1, 1999 - AgriSurf! The Farmers Search Engine

With thousands of links provided, this site is not just for farmers, and the breadth goes far beyond botany! In addition to categories from forestry to sustainable agriculture to aquaculture to equipment (all together 34 at this time), there are also pages on AgNews, AgWeather, AgShows, AgSounds, AgForum, and farm headlines from UPI. External links are rated according to usefulness, country of origin, reliability and speed. Site by AgriSurf. (***1/2) -SR

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/sep99.shtml