[It would be of great service that errors, typos or otherwise found in the copy be reported to Ronald L. Hartman [rhartman@uwyo.edu].
The RM web site (http://www.rmh.uwyo.edu/) has been enhanced significantly. It now includes access to the nearly 700,000 specimen records through a new search interface. Features of the new interface include: searching for specimens by text criteria or by drawing an arbitrary polygon around an area of interest on a map, viewing the distribution of a species over Google Maps with an associated listing of specimen records, the ability to click on a dot on the map to get the list of specimens collected at that site or click on a specimen to view its location on the map, the ability to down-load data in several formats, and more. The web site includes data from 44 major floristic MS projects as well as more than 24 projects by RM staff and associates for a total of 550,000 numbered collections. These new accessions were from 11 states in or adjacent to the Rocky Mountains (all georeferenced). Direct access is provided to specimen collections, taxa lists, and geographical boundaries for all completed projects. For “historical” collections (150,000), coverage includes much of Wyoming, western South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona (georeferencing in progress). Location data are redacted from private lands and Federally listed taxa.
Ben Legler, while completing a floristic MS degree on the Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico, totally rebuilt the database using MySQL and MS Access and created the new web interface. He is also responsible for the technical aspects of the portal for the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria (http://www.pnwherbaria.org) at the WTU Herbarium, University of Washington, on which our interface is modeled.
We have a memorandum of understanding with UW Libraries and their IT staff for housing the new site and maintaining the database. This relationship has proven to be mutually valuable for both the RM and the UW Libraries.
The database began in 1991 using PLabel by Kent Perkins. Over the years it has evolved in various ways. Tim Chumley provided significant refinements in the late 1990s. He also developed the earlier web site and is responsible for the online Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Wyoming. Jill Larson was responsible for a number of improvements in the mid-2000s. Throughout its history, B. E. Nelson has done an admirable job of overseeing data acquisition and editing content.