An overview on Taxonomic Keys and Automated Species Identification (ASI)

Abstract

A core goal of taxonomy and systematics, entomology, field botany, horticulture, zoology and many agriculture courses involves learning to identify plants and animals. But current syllabi and time constraint allow students to see only a limited amount of taxonomic variability. Usually only experts such as taxonomists and trained technicians can identify taxa accurately because it requires special skills acquired through extensive experience. Taxonomic keys are essential tools for species identification, used by students and professionals. The development of computer-based, multi-media keys provides one means of addressing this critical identification and diagnostic function. Automated species identification (ASI) is a method of making the expertise of taxonomists available to ecologists, parataxonomists and others via digital technology and artificial intelligence. Today, most automated identification systems rely on images depicting the species for the identification. Although computer programs will not replace classical plant identification methods, they have the potential to make these methods more effective.