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

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发挥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，尤其令人担忧的是，这一群体的分类学专业知识在全球范围内正在衰落。该项目正在开发一种创新的、有趣的、信息量很大的计算机化指南，用于入门课程，将点燃人们对微生物生物多样性的兴趣和理解，并有助于吸引年轻人投身微生物研究事业。该项目的重点是藻类，这是一种五颜六色、引人入胜的生物，吸引了学生的想象力。每年，在全国各地的入门课程中，数以百计的学生被要求使用一把二分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钥匙的不可原谅性质，学生们在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，它与标准的二分式钥匙根本不同，因为它在设计上没有层次化，而且本质上更容易使用。由于密钥正在网络上广泛传播，它可能会被数千名学生使用。

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.