PROPOSAL OF COMPUTERIZED KEY FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MICROSCOPIC GREEN-ALGAE

This proposal outlines a non-conventional method for constructing iden tification keys, which should be applied mainly in algal groups with h igh specific diversity. The authors attempt at reducing subjective or intuitive elements involved in any standard identification by these si mple procedures of handling taxonomic information by means of personal computers. In spite of spectracular achievements in algal biochemistr y and molecular genetics, the cyto-morphological approach in sampling characters still remains the main component of present-day algal taxon omy. The program proposed is equally suitable to create and employ ide ntification keys for any particular group. The operational key consist s of the authors' frame-program coupled with a set of three data files for each particular group (check-list, coded diagnoses and character data files). The program compares the coded taxonomic diagnoses of all recorded taxa of the group with that of the investigated unknown alga . The investigated alga is referred then by the computer to that recor ded taxon which shows the highest degree of numerically evaluated over all phenetic similarity.