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PhycoKey History

The expediency of online biological identification keys became clear with the popular reception of An Image-Based Key to the Zooplankton of the Northeast (USA). The zooplankton key was developed over many years and placed online in 2007 by J.F. Haney and students in the Center for Freshwater Biology, University of New Hampshire, USA - inspiring the idea of the PhycoKey (http://www.cfb.unh.edu).

In contrast to classic dichotomous text keys, PhycoKey (“algal key”) is image-based with a minimum requirement of morphological terms, for initial identification to the level of genus. Several images are presented for comparison at on the same page. As critical as are descriptive morphological terms, they tend to discourage young students. Terminology is introduced along with the images.

PhycoKey, placed online in 2009, is an open-ended class project expected to develop and diversify as more marine and freshwater collections are catalogued. The emphasis is on both pigmented and colorless protista, starting with planktonic forms (Phycos (Gr.) = alga) amoebae, flagellates, and ciliates. Common artifacts (fragments of larger organisms, crystals, pollen) are included when found.

The intended audience includes students of aquatic microorganisms. Most home-grown images in the key are photographed at a magnification of 400x with basic bright field illumination and a standard student microscope (Olympus) fitted with an Olympus digital camera (4 MB), then processed with Adobe PhotoShop. Several images have been modified from other sites to augment our own collection.

Enthusiasts who have worked on PhycoKey with A.L. Baker at the University of New Hampshire include:

John Clifford Baker (Fall 2007)

Amanda Lee Murby (Fall 2007)

Lauren Wyatt (Fall 2007)

Wendy Ryan Beagen (Fall 2007, Spring 2008)

Carol Stockwell Elliott (Spring 2008, Fall 2008,
Spring 2009)

Françoise Morison (Spring 2008, Fall 2008, Spring 2009)

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