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NudiKey v1.0

How to use NudiKey

NudiKey has been designed so that  users can identify a sea slug specimen to family level by using external physical characteristics.


The following is a step-by-step  tutorial to use  NudiKey - Java Applet Edition:


1. Launch NudiKey by clicking on 'Launch NudiKey (Java Applet Edition)' hyperlink from the homepage.

2. The Java program will launch in a web browser (Note: NudiKey is incompatible with Google Chrome).

3. The NudiKey page will appear divided into four frames (Fig. 1).


The top left frame contains the possible choices of physical characteristics (features) that may be selected. The top right frame lists the families (entities) that may be identified. When physical characteristics are selected they will appear in the lower left frame as features chosen. Choosing characteristics will eliminate some families from the list in the top right and these discarded families will appear in the lower right frame as entities discarded.


Nudikey page - four frames

Fig. 1.

4. The list of physical characteristics and families may be expanded by clicking on  Expand next to each item. Alternatively all lists may be expanded in one step by clicking on the expand selected list button Expand selected list which is contained in the top left toolbar. Conversely lists may be collapsed by clicking the '-' buttons.


5. Fully expanded lists will populate the entire top left and right frames (Fig. 2).


Four frames expanded

Fig. 2.


6. All physical features do not need to be 'answered' and the order in which features are selected does not matter.  Clicking on a media icon Media icon next to the physical characteristic will open a 'pop-up' window with illustrated details of the particular physical features. Select the feature/s that seem most applicable to the specimen. If any of the options do not seem to fit, skip to another feature. If all of the features are exhausted and identification is not finalised (i.e. a single family or entity remains in the top right frame) return to any features that have been skipped.


7. The physical feature selection process can be made more efficient by the use of the 'find best feature' button Find best feature which will suggest features that discriminate best amongst the families. This function may be advanced through the key by clicking the 'next best feature' button Next best feature and, to go back one step, select the 'previous best feature' button Previous best feature.


8. The 'prune redundant feature' button Prune redundant feature will remove features that may become redundant during the keying process. Redundant features are those that will no longer help to eliminate families from the remaining choices. In some cases alternating between 'best feature' and 'prune redundant feature' may offer the most efficient way to navigate NudiKey.


9. At any point a feature may be de-selected by clicking a check box for the second time.


10. Continue to select features until only one family remains in the top right frame or the physical features are exhausted. If only a few families remain try checking the family fact sheets by clicking the media icon for each. In some cases it will not be possible to eliminate families until only one remains, depending on the features that are available, especially if identification is performed using photographs only
.


11. If no families remain check back over the physical feature selections, undo any that are doubtful or that may not be essential to the specimen.


12. The key may be restarted by selecting the 'restart' button Restart button.



MATTHEW J. NIMBS

Southern Cross University
National Marine Science Centre
 

Linnean society