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COMPUTER‐ASSISTED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF THE DATA OF TAXONOMY AND SYSTEMATICS
Author(s) -
Morse Larry E.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.2307/1218086
Subject(s) - taxonomy (biology) , computer science , information retrieval , systematics , taxon , taxonomic rank , data science , hierarchy , ecology , biology , economics , market economy
Summary This survey concerns computer‐assisted storage and retrieval of the data of taxonomy and systematic biology. First, specimen data and ecological data are briefly considered. Next, taxon‐level information is discussed, with emphasis on the role of the taxonomic hierarchy in information storage and retrieval. Following that background material, some general conditions under which computer processing of taxonomic information can be of benefit are considered, and some specific criteria for comparing and evaluating taxonomic information systems are suggested. As examples of the various approaches to computer processing of taxonomic information, several recent projects are reviewed. Finally, computer‐based information networks are considered as a coming development in taxonomic data processing, to supplement but not replace traditional museum collections and publications.