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Contents:
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Review:
This is another interactive guide (see previous reviews). The common theme of all of these multimedia products is that they are produced under the aegis of ETI - the Expert Centre for Taxonomic Identification. The ETI is an NGO working with UNESCO to spread the word about identification (their site, ETI Information Services, contains links to taxonomy experts, software and global databases in addition to other products for sale).
This CD is part of a far wider initiative. The Fauna Malesiana is a project run by 5 internationally recognised museums in London, Jakarta, Leiden, Copenhagen and Amsterdam. The entire project aims to bring together all the knowledge (much of it scattered) about the taxonomy of the region. The CD aims to fill a specialised niche - quick identification of corals in the Indo-Malayan region. As with the other products from ETI it is quick and easy to install (just make sure you chose the right option of Windows or Macintosh). The viewer is then presented with 7 options. The introduction provides a simple overview of the corals of the region, a brief outline of their biology and ecology (this is for the more advanced user so such details are necessarily brief) and a note about coral conservation. The glossary provides a simple dictionary of key terms. The literature option acts as a bibliography of material used. Like the glossary option, only the first entry of that letter is shown - click on contents for a fuller list. The index is a list of all families and/or genera covered. Click on one of these for outline of the biology and ecology and links to more information such as species and images. Higher taxa is an option which provides a more systematic way through the coral classes, families and genera. The picture key option is a useful guide to get to at least family/generic level for corals by using visual data rather than the more usual binomial key. Finally, MapIt is a simple GIS-style programme that allows you to map distributions and compare two species. Some idea of biodiversity is also available.
This CD continues the work of the others in the series. The common interfaces make the CDs easy to use. Those with an interest in corals would do well to look at this product.