RUI: Web-Based Tools to Enhance Understanding of Microscopic Biodiversity

RUI：基于网络的工具，增强对微观生物多样性的理解

• 批准号: 0229531
• 负责人: Peter Siver
• 金额: $ 7.49万
• 依托单位: Connecticut College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-02-15 至 2006-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0229531&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Web; Based; Tools; Enhance

Hidden from view by the human eye are literally millions of microscopic organisms that are essential for maintaining the health and integrity of all ecosystems. Indeed, the roles microbes play in basic functions such as photosynthesis, energy flow and nutrient recycling are necessary for maintaining life on Earth. Irrespective of their overwhelming importance in the biosphere, microbes remain poorly understood. Because little is known about the true number of microbes and their genetic diversity, it is especially troubling to realize that taxonomic expertise in this group is declining worldwide.This project is developing an innovative, fun-to-use, and highly informative computerized guide for use in introductory courses that will ignite interest and understanding of microscopic biodiversity, and help attract young people to careers in the study of microbes. The project is focusing on the algae, a diverse array of colorful and fascinating organisms that catch the imagination of students. Each year in introductory courses throughout the country literally hundreds of students are asked to use a dichotomous key to identify algae supplied by commercial venders. Often, due to insufficient illustrations and the unforgiving nature of dichotomous keys, students leave these laboratory sessions frustrated. We are developing a highly illustrative key to be used with cultures from commercial suppliers that is fundamentally different from standarddichotomous keys in being nonhierarchical in design and inherently easier to use. Because the key is being widely distributed over the web it can potentially be used by thousands of students.

肉眼看不见的是数以百万计的微生物，它们对维持所有生态系统的健康和完整性至关重要。事实上，微生物在光合作用、能量流动和养分循环等基本功能中所起的作用对于维持地球上的生命是必要的。尽管微生物在生物圈中具有压倒性的重要性，但人们对它们的了解仍然很少。由于人们对微生物的真实数量及其遗传多样性知之甚少，尤其令人不安的是，在世界范围内，对这一群体的分类学专业知识正在下降。该项目正在开发一种创新的、使用有趣的、信息丰富的计算机化指南，用于入门课程，以激发对微观生物多样性的兴趣和理解，并帮助吸引年轻人从事微生物研究的职业。这个项目的重点是藻类，这是一种丰富多彩的迷人生物，能激发学生们的想象力。每年，在全国各地的入门课程中，都有数百名学生被要求使用二分法钥匙来识别商业供应商提供的藻类。通常，由于插图不足和二分键的无情本质，学生们离开这些实验课程时感到沮丧。我们正在开发一种高度说明性的钥匙，用于商业供应商的文化，它与标准的二分法钥匙在设计上的非分层性和本质上更容易使用的本质上是不同的。由于密钥在网络上广泛传播，它可能被成千上万的学生使用。