Diatoms of North AmericaWe requested support from the Society for Freshwater Science, Innovation Fund for a novel revision of the diatoms.org COMPARE feature. The COMPARE feature allows practitioners to visualize and distinguish similar or commonly confused diatom species. In the original design, the COMPARE feature provided side-by-side vertical images, but it was of limited, or no, use for diatoms with greater length to width ratios (over 5).
With SFS funding, we worked to develop an optional horizontal display of images for long, skinny species. Now in the revised the COMPARE feature, species are automatically set to display as vertical or horizontal depending on their length to width ratio. Alternatively, the orientation can be changed within the Content Management System by a contributor or editor.
We hope that by upgrading this feature, we will enhance the already powerful, intuitive, information-rich interface that helps practitioners (researchers, students, and environmental managers) accurately distinguish taxa based on key morphological traits, gaining access to autecological characterizations. This innovation will strengthen taxonomic consistency in freshwater bioassessment, enhance learning, and broaden accessibility of diatom identification to non-specialists.
This work was funded by the Society for Freshwater Science, Innovation Fund based on a proposal by working groups of diatoms.org:
SFS Diatom Taxonomic Certification Committee (TCC): Mariena Hurley, David Burge, Heera Malik, Kyle Scotese, Mark Edlund
Editorial Review Board (ERB): David Burge, Ian Bishop, Jeffery Stone, Laura Aycock, Rob Kimmich, Paula Furey, Tom Frankovich, Mark Edlund, Marina Potapova, Sarah Spaulding
You are invited to Contact Us with your feedback and comments on the revised COMPARE!
