ANSP Algae Image Database Information
Topics on this page:
Taxa Names
The taxon name shown in larger letters in the species lists
and the image labels is the name currently preferred by
Phycology Section staff. We plan to update these names as
taxonomic nomenclature evolves. Names in smaller letters
are the ones used when the imaged specimen was first
identified. Note that in some cases a specimen was
misidentified in the past and the current name is not a
synonym of the original. We keep and display original
applied names because a purpose of this site is to provide
documentation for papers and reports in which those names
were used.
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Finding Images
Images can be searched by genus and species and by geographic
location.
Searching by taxon:
Select a genus from the "Genus" drop-down box and
then choose either "Species List" or
"Thumbnails." The "Species List"
choice provides a list of all the taxa in the genus for
which there are images, and the number of images of each.
To select taxa of interest, click the check box next to
each name. To select all taxa in the list check the
"All Species" box. Then click
"Get Image Data" to retrieve a list of individual
images of the taxa chosen and information on sources of
the images and their quality. As with the previous step,
check individual images to be viewed, or the
"All Species" box, and then click
"Get Image Data." The "Species List"
search pathway can save time when selecting taxa from
genera with large numbers of images. The
"Thumbnail" choice retrieves images directly,
and is efficient for viewing smaller numbers of images.
Each search looks through both the list of current-preferred
names and the list of original names. Thus, for any
"Genus" selected at the start of a search, the
species list returned will include not only taxa in that
genus, but also ones that were either originally in, or
changed to, a different genus. For example, selection of
"Genus" Navicula would return some taxa in the
genus Craticula as well as Navicula.
To view only images of unknown and undescribed taxa
in a genus, check the "Unidentified Taxa Only"
box before initiating a search.
Searching by geography:
Select an item from one or more of the dropdown boxes:
"State", "Waterbody", or
"Geographical Study Unit (GSU)." The GSU choices
vary depending on the projects for which they were created;
for example, U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality
Assessment (NAWQA)
GSUs are individual
Study Units, or major watersheds. Clicking "Get
Image Data" will return a list of images of specimens
collected from locations meeting the search criteria. Check
boxes next to individual images to be viewed, or check the
"All Species" box and then click "Get Image
Data."
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Viewing Images
To view full size image, click on thumbnail. Image
will appear in a separate browser window. It can be copied
and saved as a separate file. Images are in PNG format.
Scale is sometimes indicated by a scale bar, but
most often by length and width dimensions. Some early images
were not accompanied by measurements or scale bars, so no
scale information is presented. Most images were taken at
1000 X.
To view information such as source of the image,
dimensions, and taxonomic comments, click on the name
of the taxon, highlighted in red. Information will appear in
a separate browser window. If you would like to add a
comment, see "Posting Comments" below. Some
images acquired from outside the Academy, and some not made
with the original intention of being included in the
database, have little information regarding their source.
They are made available, however, because the quality of
the images is good and they represent the taxon well.
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Sources of Images
Images come from several sources. Most were made by staff
of the PCER Phycology Section during their day to day
analysis of samples for various projects and their
re-examination of specimens as part of the data analysis
process. The ANSP PCER Phycology Section staff members
who contributed images or identified specimens include Todd
Clason (former employee), Lont Marr, Eduardo Morales, Ruth
Patrick, Karin Ponader, Marina Potapova, Noma Ann Roberts
(former employee), and Diane Winter. Contributing
collaborators include William Cody (independent consultant),
Kalina Manoylov (Michigan State University) and Natalie
West ( student intern). Several images were made in
preparation for small taxonomic workshops held at the
Academy. Some images are of type specimens from the ANSP
Diatom Herbarium and other collections. With some exceptions,
the microscope slides with imaged specimens are curated in
the ANSP Diatom Herbarium.
Many images were made or enhanced at the former NAWQA
Biology Unit (BU), in the USGS National Water Quality
Laboratory in Denver, by Vicki Anderle under the direction
of John Kingston. Microscope slides with circled specimens
were sent by contractors (ANSP, University of Louisville,
University of Michigan, California Academy of Sciences) to
the BU where images were made. Disks with images were later
transferred to the Academy.
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Database Origins
Donald Charles initiated efforts to create the database,
and continues to supervise its development. The original
web application was designed by Susan Williams of Micro
Endeavors, Inc. in consultation with Patrick Cotter and
Donald Charles in 1999, both of whom designed the
underlying database. The web application was substantially
modified, first by Patrick Cotter in 2000 and then in 2001
by Kathleen Sprouffske, who was the database and website
administrator. David Waterman further modified the website
and developed the system to post comments on indivdual images
in 2002. Phycology Section staff (listed above, and
including Frank Acker), contributed significantly to the
design of the website by explaining user needs and providing
feedback during the development process. Colleagues
including Kalina Manoylov and Jan Stevenson at Michigan
State University, William Cody and Loren Bahls also
provided useful comments. Eduardo Morales and Marina
Potapova reviewed and approved all available images.
Creation of the database and website application was
supported through Patrick Center internal funding. Addition
and documentation of most images are funded by projects
for which samples are being analyzed, the largest being
the USGS NAWQA program (see
WaterLine article). The computer server on which the
database runs was purchased with funds provided by the
National Science Foundation.
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Posting Comments
We encourage webpage users to post comments about the
identification of algae images. Anyone can use this feature
to share ideas and promote discussion about the images
on this website.
Posting Procedure:
To add a comment, click on the “Post a comment”
button in the Image Details box. You will be asked to enter
your name, email, institution, and comment. You can view
the most recent comments by clicking
"Recent Comments on Images" on the left side of
the screen. All posted comments are displayed along with an
image's details
when an administrator from the Academy approves your post.
Comments are monitored by Phycology staff. At the time
each comment is added to the Algae Image database, Phycology
staff is also automatically notified of the new post.
Inappropriate language and HTML commands are not permitted,
and line feeds and multiple spaces are automatically
removed. Additionally, comments are limited to 1000 letters
– you can determine the number of letters you have
already entered in your message by clicking
"Count Letters."
Privacy Policy:
Your name, institution, message, and the date on which you
posted the message are all displayed publicly. No other
collected information about you is revealed to the public
or to third parties.
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Citing the Database
Recommended citation format
for the ANSP Algae Image Database:
ANSP Algae Image Database from the Phycology Section,
Patrick Center for Environmental Research, The Academy
of Natural Sciences at http://diatom.acnatsci.org/AlgaeImage/
Example citation of an
individual image:
ANSP Algae Image Database, Phycology Section, Patrick Center
for Environmental Research, The Academy of Natural Sciences.
Retreived 25 June 2003 from
https://diatom.ansp.org/AlgaeImage/image.asp?imageid=IM001998 and
https://diatom.ansp.org/AlgaeImage/ImageDetails.asp?imageid=IM001998.
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Contacts
Please contact
concerning overall database design, background and use
policy. Please contact
about taxonomic issues or website errors. We encourage your
comments and questions. Please contact us about any
apparent errors. Let us know your suggestions for
improvements.
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