Aims objectives and rationale.
The broad aim of this programme is to
develop a working version of DAISY that will be of practical benefit for
inventory and monitoring work, and will be accessible via the Internet.
To achieve this we propose to build on established collaborative links (e.g.
Hanson & Gauld, 1996; Gaston et al., 1996) with the
Escuela de Biologia
(University of Costa Rica).
Costa Rica is considered to be an ideal target
country as there is considerable biological inventory activity there that
will rigorously use and test our system. Collaboration will be extended to
include the
Escuela de Informatica, ensuring that the technology transferred
will continue to be developed and applied to the problems encountered in a
biodiverse-rich tropical country. The target group of insect to be
identified that we have selected is the Ophioninae (Hymenoptera:
Ichneumonidae). These were chosen because:
they are a large and representative insect group of around 100 species.
one of us (Ian D Gauld) possesses considerable experience in discriminating the
species of this group especially in the study area, and the basic taxonomic
problems have been resolved (Gauld, 1988) although a few new species may be
found.
species are recognised primarily on the basis of subtle differences in the
wings, differences that are both difficult to express and difficult for a
non-specialist to appreciate, even when good photographs are to hand.
there is an active group of scientists in Costa Rica who, in the course of
their studies on biological diversity, will have cause to and are willing to
use the system.
as several of these species are important enemies of agricultural pests,
the system will have use beyond the inventory/monitoring activity sphere.
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Content Copyright (c) 2007 Tumbling Dice Ltd.
DAISY is a Tumbling Dice Ltd product.
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The DAISY Automated Insect Identification Project
