Xper ²: from names to expertises Xper ² is a versatile management system for storage, edition, analysis and on -line distribution of descriptive data. It dynamically creates in teractive keys for identifying specimens. Xper ² does not require any special computer skills. It is a powerful program with a user -friendly and intuitive interface aimed at professional taxonomis ts as well as neophyte naturalists who merely want to identify spec imens using a ready -made application. Xper ²’ s users are taxonomists, teachers, fauna and flora experts (for biodiversity monitoring or survey), ecologists rese archers. Taxonomy and Phylogeny Animal welfare The Varan-ID project Dombeyoideae of the The Varan-ID project emerged from an obvious assesment that monitor lizards are Corals of the Mascarene Mascarene Archipelago very popular and subjected to an intense Islands trade over the world, for their skins as well as for herp-breeding. In this context of climate change, coral reefs suffer In 2006 the regional council of the from human activity (pollution, damages…) and Reunion Island, jointly with the preservation of natural sites became urgently a University of La Reunion (LIM-IREMIA Dombeya populnea necessity. Dombeya rodriguesiana lab), the French Ministry of Research and Dombeya mauritiana Ruiza cordata Dombeya acutangula subsp rosea the European Union, has started an Dombeya acutangula ssp acutangula Astiria rosea http://coraux.univ-reunion.fr Dombeya sevathiana initiative to promote biodiversity Dombeya ciliata des bas http://lis-upmc.snv.jussieu.fr/varanID/ Dombeya blatt iolens Dombeya delislei informatics. The aim of the BACOMAR Dombeya umbellata Dombeya ciliata Dombeya pilosa project is to create knowledge bases of Dombeya reclinata Dombeya ficulnea Dombeya elegans « MAhot », endemic Dombeyoideae of Dombeya punctata Dombeya ferruginea subsp borbonica Dombeya ferruginea ssp ferruginea the Mascarene Islands. Trochetia granulata Trochetia blackburniana Trochetia triflora To complete the systematic work Trochetia boutoniana Trochetia uniflora done, phylogenetic reconstructions Trochetia parviflora have been performed to highlight the relationships of the studied taxa NEXUS HTML (Le Péchon, 2009 1) export export Free access An accurate knowledge Bamboos of Cambodia, keys representation and more IIKC: An Interactive Laos and Vietnam tools to analyse Identification Key for female descriptive data Culicoides (Diptera: Bamboo (Bambusoides – Gramineae) is one of the most important natural resource in South East Asia. In Ceratopogonidae) from the the area of SEP program « Bamboos » (2008-2010), the Genets and Oyans West Palearctic region final objective is to update the bamboo flora of Phlebotomine Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and to publish an e-flora Interactive including free access keys, digital images and sandflies of America information about the traditional and economic use of Identification Key In 2006, bluetongue virus (BTV) outbreaks appeared bamboos. During field trips in Vietnam, Laos and surprisingly in northern Europe and widely affected most Cambodia, samples, pictures and morphological of the European countries. Correct identification of description sheets were collected in various locations This work was undertaken as part This collaboration with the of a research program conducted Culicoides species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), known and previously assigned to the local vernacular names. Institut Pasteur initiated in (Diep Thi et al , 2010 2) by Philippe Gaubert (IRD/ MNHN, as BTV vectors, is a key component of all studies Paris - France) in collaboration 1992, lead to the creation of intending to understand vector dynamics and to develop with 13 international museums. a knowledge base, and an vector control strategies (Mathieu et al , 2010 5) This tool promotes the easy tool to identify establishment of a network of field sandflies of America for a collaborators that will contribute Crimper bamboo List of characters to the regularly updated survey of better prevention and monitoring of several http://www.ecobambou-phuan.org/ the distribution ranges of these projet-sep-bambous-dindochine.html species in Africa. diseases they are the (Gaubert et al , 2009 3) vectors. http://lis-upmc.snv.jussieu.fr/ genettes/web/index.html.en http://cipa.snv.jussieu.fr Identifying and Inventoring Epidemiologic monitoring Open to other systems SDD Import/Export The Xper² team is involved in Towards interoperability many European initiatives and the next one will start in With the SDD import and export, December! Xper² is compatible with other tools, like Lucid or DiversityDescription and is being integrated into EDIT Cyberplatform of taxonomy. (Fradin et al , 2008 5) (Fradin et al , 2008 6) Xper ² is a powerful tool for editing and managing taxonomic descripti ons. Download for free your Windows ™ Mac ™ or Linux version in French, English, Spanish or our latest Chin ese version at: http://lis -upmc.snv.jussieu.fr Our mailing -list facility provides users with full support. Publish and distribute your work on CD or on -line. References: 1. Le Péchon, T. 2009. Systématique des Dombeyoidaea (Malvaceae, ex-Sterculiaceae), Thèse de Doctorat, MNHN. 2. Diep Thi, M.H., Vignes-Lebbe, R., Nguyen H.P., Nguyen Thi B. L., 2010. Indochinese Bamboos: Biodiversity Informatics to assist the identification of « vernacular taxa ». Pp. 207-211 in: Nimis P.L. & Vignes-Lebbe R. (ed.): Visotheary Ung, Florian Causse and Régine Vignes-Lebbe Tools for identifying Biodiversity: Progress and Problems. ISBN 978-88-8303-295-0. 3. Gaubert, P. Chalubert A., Dubus, G. An Interactive Identification key for genets and oyans (Carnivora, Viverridae, Genettinae, Genetta spp. and Poiana spp.) using Xper². Zootaxa 1717: 39-50. UMR 7207 CR2P, 43 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris 4. Mathieu, B., Cêtre-Sossah C., Garros, C., Chavernac D., Balenghien T., Vignes-Lebbe R., Ung V., Candolfi E., Delécolle J.C., 2010. IIKC, an Interactive Identification Key for female Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the West Paleartic region. Pp. 201-205 in: Nimis P.L. & Vignes-Lebbe R. (ed.): Tools for identifying Biodiversity: Progress and Problems. ISBN 978-88-8303-295-0. 5. Fradin, H., Kuntzelmann E., Vignes Lebbe R. Taxonomic data exchange facilities for descriptive tools in Europe Contact: [email protected] Weitzmann, A. L. (ed.): The Proceedings of TDWG (2008) Fremantle, Australia P. 83. 6. Fradin, H. Aubriot X., Maicco Ô., Vignes-Lebbe R. A character may hide another. P. 128 in MacLeod, N. & al. (ed.): e-Biosphere '09 Conference, 1-3 June 2009, Abstracts. London. 1.