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Topics

• Introduction
• Palaeontological information
• Specimen management databases
• Barcode technology
• Computer-aided identification tools
• Digital images
• Dissemination: local & global
• References
• Links

Recent advances in the development of biodiversity information technology are readily applicable to palaeontological information. This paper is essentially a discussion of the various software and hardware technologies available and how they can be applied to both teaching and research in the palaeosciences. All research utilising taxonomic data, whether biostratigraphy, biogeography, systematics or ecology, ultimately relies on the information provided by specimens. Many research agendas require data from hundreds to thousands of specimens. Clearly, some technological solutions to the curatorial problems resulting from large specimen collections, would benefit such research.

Specimen management databases are particularly useful informatics tools for research purposes. In these typically relational databases, the essential elements of specimen information (what is it, where was it found, who found it) can be recorded in an efficient and retrievable format. While the author is not aware of any software packages specifically catering to palaeontological information, more general packages, such as Biota^TM have proven suitable. Specimen curation also benefits from the use of barcodes. As in department stores, barcode technology greatly expedites the management of a large inventory of objects. It has been estimated that the use of barcodes saves one researcher at least a quarter of a million keystrokes a year (THOMPSON 1994). Barcodes are used widely in museums and herbaria, and in some biodiversity research laboratories (OLIVER et. al. 2000). Palaeontological research laboratories could similarly benefit.

Computer-aided identification tools are applicable to both teaching and research in the palaeosciences. Typically, these tools are in the form of a multi-access key which differs from the traditional dichotomous key in that the user decides the order in which character states are entered. This feature, combined with the liberal use of digital images, makes such software more 'user-friendly' and flexible than traditional identification techniques. Commercial packages available include DELTA^TM, LucID^TM and Linnaeus II^TM.

The phenomenon of ever increasing hard drive capacities and RAM allocations, coupled with falling prices, make the use of high resolution digital images within the capabilities of most researchers. New technologies, such as high resolution digital cameras, and montaging software (eg. AutoMontage^TM) allow for fully focused images of specimens previously too small to capture without using SEM techniques. Digital images, posing as 'virtual specimens', have the potential to revolutionise taxonomic practises through their ready transfer via the internet.

• Minimises repetitive input
• Minimises redundant storage
• Flexibility
• Powerful search and reporting capabilities
• Scalability

BiotaTM : data structure

• Easily, and cheaply, captured
• Readily integrated into databases
• Highly archivable
• Highly transferable

Digital images:

Montaging technology 2

	Intergration of:
		Auto-MontageTM software Frame-grabber Z-stepper
		Fully-focused images

NIPPERESS, D. 2000. Palaeoinformatics: Tools for the Management and Dissemination of Palaeontological Information. Palaeontology Down Under 2000. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts 61: 73

OLIVER, I., PIK, A., BRITTON, D., DANGERFIELD, J.M., COLWELL, R.K. & BEATTIE, A.J. 2000. Virtual biodiversity assessment systems. BioScience 50: 441-450.

THOMPSON, F.C. 1994. Bar codes for specimen data management. Insect Collection News 9: 2-4.

Biota^TM
Biotrack^TM
DELTA^TM
Linnaeus II
LucID^TM at CSIRO
Lucid Central
MUCEP: Macquarie University Centre for Ecostratigraphy and Palaeobiology