The vast majority of Ireland's 31,000 species belong to small, obscure groups of animals and plants such as fungi, algae and invertebrates. These groups are poorly understood as they are very difficult to study and identify to species level. Yet despite their complexity these organisms play a valuable role in the provision of goods and services to Irish society, services which are estimated to contribute at least €2.9 billion per annum to the Irish economy.
To understand and protect this valuable resource, new user-friendly, online identification keys on Ireland's biodiversity are required to increase our knowledge on these poorly studied aspects of Ireland's biodiversity.
The National Biodiversity Data Centre has developed specialised software, Biodiversity Keys, to meet this need. This software allows scientific experts to develop online keys for aiding the identification of animals and plants, specifically tailored to Irish science.
The first of these online keys is to Irish freshwater worms. Freshwater worms are an obscure group of animals that are sensitive to changes in water quality and are used in water quality assessments. The author of this identification key, Irish expert and environmental consultant, Pascal Sweeney, states 'that this is another very valuable service provided by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and one that will improve the understanding of highly specialised but important aspects of Ireland's biodiversity'.
The online key is available on the website of the National Biodiversity Data Centre at http://biodiversityireland.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=2449588d6e9ee7585110bd46a&id=8162eac111&e=00648d5e0c.
If you are an expert in a poorly studied taxonomic group and would be interested in developing a specific Irish online identification key for that group, please contact the Data Centre to discuss collaboration.
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National Biodiversity Data Centre Email info@biodiversityireland.ie
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