Keys to plants and lichens on smartphones: Estonian examples

Abstract

The EU project KeyToNature aims to contribute to a better knowledge of biodiversity by a practical activity, the identification of species. The project is introducing new tools, including digital keys for mobile media. In Estonia two applications have been prepared for smartphones: a ‘Key to trees and shrubs of Estonia’ (for iPhone, iPodTouch and iPad) and a ‘Key to Estonian epiphytic macrolichens’ (using the Android operating system). A third tool, the ‘Key for plants of the island Naissaar’ is an example of application of the Open Key Editor for creating new keys for mobile devices, starting from a larger master key.