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| Reviewed: |
Apr 17, 2003 by Biology Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
The CalFlora Project is designed as a comprehensive database of plant distribution information for the State of California. CalFlora contains information for over 7,500 ferns, conifers, and flowering plants known to be native or naturalized in California. The photos found in this website are also available through CalPhoto on the UC Berkeley Digital Library, that contains nearly 50,000 images of plants, animals, fossils, people, and landscapes. It provides access to scientific data to identify and monitor issues in plant conservation and biodiversity as well as for use in land use decisions. It also provides access to educational information at many levels. The site consists of three primary components: a species database, an occurrence database, and a nomenclature database. It also provides an elaborate but easy-to-use search engine for California vegetation. Maps are built on the basis of information in the databases. Complementing these searchable databases is access to the CalPhotos library of plant images. Numerous organizations and volunteers support this Project. |
| Learning Goals: |
There are no specific learning goals; this site is not primarily an educational site. However, users will gain a better understanding of how plants are classified and identified through the use of this website. |
| Target Student Population: |
The general public, as well as all levels of Middle School through Upper Division College Students, will be able to use this website for investigating plant taxonomy, morphology,
and ecology. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
It may be useful to have some basic understanding of the Plant Kingdom and a little knowlege about California climate before searching the database. |
| Type of Material: |
Collection/Database. |
| Recommended Uses: |
This website can be used to identify plants and study the uniformity and diversity of vegetation in California. |
| Technical Requirements: |
Current internet browser and QuickTime |
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| Strengths: |
- Wide range of participants helps ensure database completeness.
- Databases well thought out and organized.
- Material is very near complete for vegetation in California.
- High quality images with appropriate labels and easy-to-follow charts.
- Accurate and includes information about multiple common names.
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| Concerns: |
- Since anyone can make an entry, errors or misidentifications may be in database, even if only transient.
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
- Photo database provides useable examples of plant structure and adaptations.
- The wide range of materials provided in the site can be adapted to any situation both within the classroom and as out-of-class assignments/explorations.
- Well set up to explore range of different species and interaction with environment as well as habitat loss issues.
- Fexibility of use through multiple search options.
- Demonstrates relationships by grouping plants together.
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| Concerns: |
- Since the site is not designed as an educational resource, use of the site will require assignments with explicit instructions to help students extract information beyond occurrence and photos.
- Perhaps a few practice sessions could be suggested in a separate webpage to demonstrate how the database may be searched.
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) provides accurate explanations on how to use the site and what to do if user has difficulties finding what specific information.
- Navigation is generally clear within a particular activity.
- All links tried functioned and materials loaded quickly in most cases.
- Multiple search options are well-designed and work very well for finding plants.
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| Concerns: |
- GIS Viewer may require some exploration to determine how it works and what can be accomplished with it.
- Site functions are easy to use but do not lead easily to educational use by students without direction.
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
This is a very well designed and presented website for California vegetation. It serves as a good model for similar projects in other parts of the United States and the World. The different search options are well thought out and provide a nice way of understanding the uniformity and diversity of California vegetation. |
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