THE USE OF INTERACTIVE IDENTIFICATION KEYS IN ECOLOGICAL-STUDIES

Traditionally confined to taxomony, identification keys have found app lication in a number of fields, including ecological and dietary studi es. Although they obviate the tedious process of comparing specimens t o a vast array of known samples, manual identification keys remain tim e-consuming. The use of an identification key-generating program (e.g. DELTA) for microcomputers is discussed in terms of identifying fragme ntary plant material in tree hyrax Dendrohyrax arboreus faeces. The fr ee format employed by DELTA makes it more user-friendly than some of i ts predecessors, allowing for easier application to a wide range of fi elds. The program's interactive key improved the efficiency of the ide ntification process considerably.