February 15, 2007 (Vol. 27, No. 4)
URL:
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/index.html
Rating:
Strong Points: Simple design
Weak Points: Needs more scientific info
Summary:
The Center for Biodiversity at the University of Illinois has a novel approach to the diversity of images on the opening page. When I wrote this article, it appeared to be a link to a non-existent photo, so a question mark was in its place. That’s not exactly the image one wants to project about a site and presumably it will be fixed soon. Focusing mainly on organisms and ecosystems in the State of Illinois, the Center for Biodiversity does, in fact, have a lot to offer. Highlights include information about the collections of fungi, annelids, botany, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, amphibians/reptiles, birds, and mammals. Visitors can search through the information to locate specimens. Several sections have information on endangered or threatened species in that category. I particularly liked the section on fungi with maps and calendars showing where/when the Morels appear across the U.S.
