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.

从人类眼中隐藏的是数百万个微观生物，这些生物对于维持所有生态系统的健康和完整性至关重要。实际上，微生物在基本功能（例如光合作用，能量流和养分回收）中起着作用，对于维持地球上的生命是必要的。不管它们在生物圈中的绝对重要性如何，微生物的理解仍然很差。因为对微生物的真实数量及其遗传多样性知之甚少，所以意识到该小组中的分类专业知识正在全球范围内下降，这是尤其令人不安的。该项目正在开发一个创新，有趣的，用途且高度高度的计算机化指南，用于使用入门课程，这些指南将激发了对微观生物多样性的兴趣和理解，并帮助您吸引年轻人的研究，并帮助您吸引年轻人的研究。该项目集中在藻类上，藻类是一系列多彩而迷人的生物，吸引了学生的想象。每年，全国各地的入门课程都有数百名学生都被要求使用二分键来识别商业供应商提供的藻类。通常，由于插图不足和二分法钥匙的无情性质，学生使这些实验室会议感到沮丧。我们正在开发一个高度说明性的钥匙，可与商业供应商的文化一起使用，该文化与标准二元密钥根本不同，在设计方面是非等级制度的，并且本质上更易于使用。由于钥匙是在网络上广泛分布的，因此有可能被成千上万的学生使用。