This paper describes the integration of structured descriptive data in the EDIT platform for Cybertaxonomy. The platform is composed of several software modules supporting the taxonomic workflow from data capture and storage to publication. Descriptive data play an important role within the taxonomic work process. The integration of these data via import/export modules to and from the platform and the publication as natural language output or as keys are explained.

In 2006, bluetongue virus (BTV) outbreaks appeared surprisingly in northern Europe and widely affected most of the European countries. Correct identification of Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), known as BTV vectors, is a key component of all studies intending to understand vector dynamics and to develop vector control strategies. A computer-based system, Xper2, was used to develop an Interactive Identification Key (IIKC) for female Culicoides from the West Palearctic region. The current version of IIKC includes 108 taxa, 61 descriptors and 837 pictures and schemes. IIKC is a powerful tool for routinely identifying Culicoides species and for training young specialized taxonomists.

Bamboo (Bambusoides – Gramineae) is one of the most important natural resource in Southeast Asia. However, bamboo identification has many difficulties. In the area of SEP programme «Indochina Bamboos» (2008-2010), the final objective is to update the bamboo flora of Indochine (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodege) and to publish an e-flora including free access keys, digital images and information about the traditional and economic use of bamboos. During field trips in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodgia, samples, pictures and morphological description sheets were collected in various locations and previously assigned to the local vernacular names. We use an informatic program, Xper2, to assist the comparison and identification of “vernacular bamboo taxa” based on morphological characteristics.

To facilitate the identification of specimens, biodiversity informatics has developed numerous new computer-aided tools which compete with the old, printed single access keys. Free access keys are accessible for many different taxonomic groups, but key-generating software are also helpful to construct single access keys. This paper presents a midfield solution to create customized decision trees (single access keys) through an interactive webbased interface. This solution offers an online service to create keys according to the parameters and context chosen by the final users themselves. It is also useful for the administrator of this online system, because of low-maintenance needs, limited to configuration files when new knowledge bases are added on the server side. Presently, the software is available with a French interface at the following URL: http://baron.snv.jussieu.fr/cgi-bin/david/MyKey.cgi.

Pollen ID offers a free and easy access to various palynological information and compiles in the same web-space a pollen database and different services through a friendly user interface. Pollen ID proposes, or will propose, pollen and plant descriptions, terminology learning with an illustrated glossary and interactive images, identification keys, pollen analysis, pollen diagram construction, links with vegetation and climate data. The Pollen ID project is presently restricted to the European and Mediterranean geographical area, but it will be extended to other regions as well. This project is still in progress; its content and user interface – presently in French - will be soon available in English. In its final shape, the Pollen ID project will include palynological applications such as pollen determination tests, several original pollen analysis exercises with representations in diagrams and an easy interpretation of vegetation and climate. Pollen ID is accessible on http://lisupmc. snv.jussieu.fr/pollen/.

The correct identification of organisms is fundamental not only for the assessment and the conservation of biodiversity, but also in agriculture, forestry, the food and pharmaceutical industries, forensic biology, and in the broad field of formal and informal education at all levels. In this book, the reader will find short presentations of current and upcoming projects (EDIT, KeyToNature, STERNA, Species 2000, Fishbase, BHL, ViBRANT, etc.), plus a large panel of short articles on software, taxonomic applications, use of e-keys in the educational field, and practical applications. Single-access keys are now available on most recent electronic devices; the collaborative and semantic web opens new ways to develop and to share applications; the automatic processing of molecular data and images is now based on validated systems; identification tools appear as an efficient support for environmental education and training; the monitoring of invasive and protected species and the study of climate change require intensive identifications of specimens, which opens new markets for identification research.

Computer Aided Identification (CAI) systems provide users with the resources to relate morpho-anatomic observations with names of taxa, and to subsequently access other knowledge about the organisms. Xper² version 2.1 is one of the most user-friendly software in its category. It provides a complete environment dedicated to taxonomic descriptions management. While assisting taxonomists with knowledge acquisition for identification keys, it also helps with the publication of descriptive data by providing a large panel of tools, including analysis facilities (comparison of taxa or descriptors used), full traceability of information and knowledge (by adding references or external links). Xper² provides excellent support for automatic online publication of descriptive data and free access keys, as well as for exporting of datasets for phylogenetic and systematic research. It focuses on interoperability between systems and can import and export into structured descriptive data format (TDWG-SDD), and export to HTML and Nexus formats. Written in Java, it is available on Windows™ Mac™ or Linux in French, English, and Spanish, and a new Chinese version can also be downloaded. With its intuitive interface, Xper² is aimed at professional taxonomists as well as naturalists who merely want to identify specimens using a readymade application. Xper² is free of charge. It can be downloaded at: LINK