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Elisabeth C. Miller Library

Archives: Recommended Websites

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species

“The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those taxa that are facing a higher risk of global extinction (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable).” Records include classification, assessment information, geographic distribution, summary documentation, detailed documentation and data sources. Advanced searching allows for limiting by region, country, marine region, or biome. Records do not contain images, but the site does refer visitors to a list of links organized by organism (i.e. mammals, fish, birds, plants).

International Plant Names Index

“The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) is a database of the names and associated basic bibliographical details of all seed plants. Its goal is to eliminate the need for repeated reference to primary sources for basic bibliographic information about plant names. The data are freely available and are gradually being standardized and checked.”

Gymnosperm Database

“The Database provides basic information on the classification, description, ecology and uses for all species and higher-ranked taxa of the gymnosperms, i.e., conifers, cycads, and their allies. You enter the taxonomic tree at the Family level and then navigate to the Genus, Species or sometimes Variety levels. At each level, information on the taxon at hand is provided, along with bibliographic citations that will take you to more detailed information about the taxon.”

Gesneriaceae Research and World Checklist

Developed by researchers at the Botany Department of the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institute, this web site includes two databases relating to bibliographic references and taxonomic citations of the Gesneriad family.

Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species database

The species database allows you to gather information about species CITES qualifies as endangered. You can combine country of origin with phylum, class, order, family, genus, species, or common name. Choose a listed plant for detailed information, such as its habitat distribution and legal status, to name a few.