An
HTML-based key to aid in the identification of marine harpacticoid copepods
Lesya Garlitska
Department of Hydrobiology
Odessa Branch Institute of Biology of Southern Seas
National Academy of Science of Ukraine
37 Pushkinskaya St.
Odessa, 65011, Ukraine
INTRODUCTION TO
THE WEB EDITION
This is a web edition of Dr. JBJ Wells’ “Keys to Aid in the Identification of Marine
Harpacticoid Copepods” (1976) including all updated information
(Wells 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1985). Wells’ key is a classic turning point
in assembling information into a tabular key for an entire group of animals,
and highlights complexity and diversity of morphology of harpacticoids. Tabular
keys became popular in the early 1970s, although their use only persists in
those few groups that originally had them developed. We feel that a tabular
approach is not only superior to that of traditional, dichotomous keys from the
standpoint of utility, but that they are highly adaptable to an HTML, web-based
format. This effort at computerizing these keys makes them available anywhere
in the world for a researcher that possesses a computer with an installed
browser, either downloaded from the world-wide web or as a distributed CD-ROM.
Although this key lacks several new modified families and
species that were subsequently described, it is still the best overall resource
for identifying harpacticoid copepods. We believe that this HTML edition will
be helpful for people, which do not have access to the original paper edition
of this key (including the five update bulletins) of their own to identify harpacticoid
copepods. It serves as a first step toward the key’s computerization, thus
increasing its potential to be readily updated in the future.
Dr. Wells is already working on revising these keys, and we
hope to implement his updates in the near future.
If you have never used a tabular key it would be better to
read the original text of Introduction,
Format of the Keys, Methods of Studying Harpacticoids and Glossary, at first.
If you are familiar with this key or keys of its type, feel
free to proceed to the Key to
the Families of Harpacticoida or if family is known use List of the Families of
Harpacticoida.
To get more information about terminology, anatomy, morphology and ecology of harpacticoid copepods you can use these papers:
BODIN, P., 1997. Catalogue of the new marine Harpacticoid
Copepods (1997 Edition). Documents
de travail de l’Institut des Sciences naturelles de Belgigue, pp. 304.
HUYS R., GEE J. M., MOORE C. G. & HAMOND R., 1996. Marine
and Brackish Water Harpacticoid Copepods, Part 1. Synopses of the British
Fauna (New Series), 51, pp. 352.
HUYS, R. &
BOXSHALL, G. A. 1991. Copepod Evolution. The Ray Society, London, pp.
468.
Thanks to Dr. Bruce C. Coull and Dr. Joe Staton (Belle W. Baruch
Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research, University of South
Carolina), who advised me in this effort.
© 2001 by the University of South Carolina.
This document is freeware and may be distributed in its
entirety as long as no file is changed in any way.