~ Early Web Links ~

The TalkOrigins Archive is a comprehensive collection of articles, essays, and FAQs dedicated to presenting mainstream scientific responses to creationism, intelligent design, and evolution denial. Drawing from the long-running talk.origins Usenet newsgroup, it covers topics ranging from evolutionary biology and geology to abiogenesis, cosmology, and the age of the Earth.

Oliver Beckstein's academic homepage showcases his computational biochemistry research at the intersection of physics and biology, covering topics like ion channel gating, membrane transport proteins, and molecular simulations. Hosted at the University of Oxford's Structural Bioinformatics and Computational Biochemistry Unit, the site links to publications, software, and his lab at Arizona State University's Center for Biological Physics.

Developed by CSIRO Entomology researchers, this anatomical atlas provides detailed visual and educational reference material covering the morphology of flies (Diptera), originally built in Flash and converted to HTML in 2023. A collaboration between CSIRO and ABRS, it includes identification keys and anatomical glossaries for fly families found in Australia, making it a valuable tool for entomologists and biology students alike.

Kaskakokos is a Spanish-language personal site from Cantabria featuring a section dedicated to local plant life, alongside writings and projects by the creator. The 'Plantas de Cantabria' section suggests a focus on regional flora, making it a charming mix of nature documentation and personal creative output.

A digitized 1922 educational text by Charles Lathrop Pack, President of the American Tree Association, covering all aspects of forestry from how trees grow to national forest policy and the dangers of fire and disease. Hosted on Project Gutenberg, this freely available ebook spans 18 chapters and includes period photographs of forests, rangers, and fire damage, making it a fascinating historical resource on early American conservation thought.

Plants For A Future (PFAF) is a searchable database of over 8,000 plants catalogued by their edible, medicinal, and other practical uses, making it an essential reference for permaculture enthusiasts and herbalists alike. The site covers topics ranging from food forests and carbon farming to rare and unusual perennial plants, with browsable indexes and habitat guides built up over decades by a UK-registered charity.

A comprehensive scientific reference on freshwater benthic ecology and aquatic entomology, covering macroinvertebrate taxa from mayflies and dragonflies to beetles and caddisflies across dozens of detailed chapters. Produced by the Soil and Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax, this site offers taxa tolerance values, biological monitoring protocols, and research reports focused on freshwater ecosystems in Nova Scotia and beyond.

Stern's Splendors of the Rain Forest is a richly illustrated site dedicated to tropical plants, focusing on orchids, bromeliads, tillandsias, cacti, and succulents native to the Americas. Featuring exotic photo galleries, cultural guides, and links to major plant societies worldwide, it serves as an enthusiast's showcase for rain forest horticulture.

Bill Standley's curated directory of internet resources for wildlife ecologists, organized into categories covering federal and state organizations, professional and non-profit groups, universities, and taxa such as mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. The site also indexes resources for endangered species, fisheries, aquatic ecology, jobs, and wildlife-related products like telemetry equipment and optics.

Created by Werner Haberl, this scholarly hub is dedicated entirely to the biology of shrews (Soricidae), featuring a bibliography, photo gallery, newsletter, congress announcements, and a forum for zoologists worldwide. Awarded 'Coolest Science Site' in 1996 and mentioned in BBC Wildlife Magazine and Encyclopedia Britannica Online, it remains a remarkably deep and specialized resource for both researchers and curious naturalists.