~ Early Web Links ~

Created by Leslie Taylor, this extensive tropical plant database catalogs hundreds of Amazonian medicinal plants by common name, botanical name, ethnic uses, and healing properties. A leader in rainforest plant research since 1995, the site offers deep reference content including preparation methods, disease applications, and articles distinguishing herbs from drugs.

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.

The Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) is a U.S. Forest Service database providing detailed scientific syntheses on fire ecology, fire regimes, and the effects of fire on plant and animal species across the United States. Visitors can explore species profiles, vegetation crosswalks, tree distribution maps, and research publications covering ecosystems from ponderosa pine forests to Sonoran desert scrub communities.

The Cincinnati Dry Dredgers claim the title of the oldest continuously-operating fossil club in North America, bringing together amateur geologists and fossil collectors in the Cincinnati area since their founding. The site features extensive fossil identification guides for trilobites, crinoids, echinoderms, brachiopods, and more, plus field trip photos, member activities, and resources for finding Ordovician-era fossils in the region.

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.

The Northern California Regional Chapter of SETAC serves students and professionals in environmental toxicology and chemistry, offering local networking, scholarships, and annual meeting opportunities. The site archives newsletters dating back to 2008 and provides information on board members, sustaining memberships, and a student-mentor lunch program.

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.

The archived web presence of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) at the National University of Singapore, now preserved after the museum was renamed and relocated as the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in 2014. Visitors can explore decades of biodiversity research, newsletters, symposium records, and an extensive 19th-century fauna of Singapore catalog with over 1,700 taxonomic entries.

BC Rare Bird Alert is a community birding blog tracking rare and unusual bird sightings across British Columbia, Canada, with detailed location reports, maps, and observer notes. Each post documents a specific rare species encounter, making it an invaluable real-time resource for birdwatchers and ornithology enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest.

Pembrokeshire Birds is a long-running blog dedicated to birdwatching observations across Pembrokeshire, Wales, covering sightings from notable sites like Skokholm Island and Teifi Marshes. With records dating back to 2008, annual reports, species lists, and detailed field notes, it serves as a rich regional ornithological resource for birders interested in Welsh wildlife.