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Post by jonathan on Apr 1, 2013 7:38:50 GMT -8
Hello Everyone. Exactly one year ago I launched my website called "Satyrinae of the Western Palearctic". During this year I received many contrasting comments. Most of you liked the page and still pay it a visit every now and then. A lot of you also praised the contents as presented and the research to consolidate various information from different sources in one location. However there were a few who told me that my efforts are useless, that the website does not add any value to the entomological community as there are similar websites (still haven’t found these sites yet!!) and that I should stop "wasting" my time to consolidate this information. Since I respect everyone's opinion, I always reply by saying that I do this research for myself first and foremost and I would like to share this information with anyone who is interested in using it. Those who don't need this info can easily ignore it, as the internet is there to be used by anyone as they please. Notwithstanding the few negative comments received, I would like to thank all the users who accessed my website during this last year and provided photos and/or suggestions. I hope that you keep on referring to my website whenever you need some information relating to the Satyrinae of the Western Palearctic. I will try to do my best to keep on updating the site with the latest information I have available. Below you can find a screenshot from Google Analytics which shows from which country in the world the users who visited my website come from. Basically it is almost from all over the world  www.satyrinae.yolasite.com/Attachments:
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Post by wollastoni on Apr 2, 2013 3:01:43 GMT -8
Congrats the new Delias of the World website is also 1 year old with many visitors ! You are doing great job on Satyrinae, very useful. Here is the chart for www.delias-butterflies.com, also visitors from the whole world as you can see. Attachments:
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Post by nomihoudai on Apr 2, 2013 7:15:22 GMT -8
I can remember how the site looked one year ago on my first visit and I see how it looks now. Many useful information has been added and you can really see how it progressed. Congratulations from me too.
If you ever want to expand, it would be great to see a site hat covers the Eastern Palearctic too and covers some of the oriental tribes as there isn't really a good resource for these anywhere.
Rgds Claude
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Post by jonathan on Apr 2, 2013 10:36:32 GMT -8
Hi Claude & wollastoni Thanks a lot for your comments. Much appreciated. To add to what Claude wrote, there are still many Western species which are rarely depicted anywhere else, especially at subspecies level. The oriental region is interesting as well. May be one day, when I feel that I have provided enough information on the Western species, I might consider covering the east as well. But I'm sure you appreciate that such projects require considerable effort, time and yes, even cash as the only way to obtain certain species/subspecies is by buying them. |
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Post by jonathan on Apr 2, 2013 23:15:56 GMT -8
Hi Radusho,
Erebia are planned sometime during the next 12 months. I left it until the very end as this genus tends to become complex on certain species.
Thanks for your comments.
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Post by wollastoni on Apr 2, 2013 23:55:30 GMT -8
People with good knowledge on specific genera absent from the web should all create such specialist websites ! Only websites can be easily updated after each new publications, only websites can link together researchers, collectors, sellers, only websites can propose pictures, live videos, direct links to other websites and so on. Only websites can be freely consulted by people all over the world. 8650 visits last year on www.delias-butterflies.com ! Books are important but outdated only 5 to 10 years after their publication... People must realize that websites are even more useful and convenient for all entomologists (amateurs & scientists). We need serious entomologists to spend time creating useful websites on all insect families. |
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Post by nomihoudai on Apr 3, 2013 0:49:06 GMT -8
Making such websites takes a lot of time (just as much as writing a book) and I am sure that some projects are in the making and not public yet  I can only relate to your statement that books in themselves are outdated when you are working on something that is work in progress. Once a genus is finished it is nice to have a book or complete publication but so many butterflies still need revision. Moth and Microlepidoptera will even need a lot more work. Unfortunately biologists are notorious for not being able to use a computer properly. jonathan, yes having pictures of the individual subspecies, as you website does, is a great idea neglected on many other pages. Erebia is a lot of work, it would be great to see this genus covered. |
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Post by wollastoni on Apr 3, 2013 5:07:20 GMT -8
"I am sure that some projects are in the making and not public yet " < indeed |
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Post by jonathan on Apr 3, 2013 7:54:16 GMT -8
I agree with both of you guys. Books tend to get easily outdated in the science field, especially in areas which are still under study. I can assure you that the money spent on specimens, books and journal subscriptions is quite material and sometimes it doesn't lead you anywhere, especially when certain articles are written in languages which I'm not familiar with such as Russian. But to be positive I have to admit that I learned to read Spanish for example from articles published in SHILAP. I have always been of the opinion that the best way where to publish all scientific material is through websites. No one in the modern world has the time to read all publications and to keep abreast of all publications. Websites would easily help to consolidate this information. @ wollastoni Well done for your website. Nice pics |
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mygos
Full Member
Posts: 230
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Post by mygos on Apr 3, 2013 10:35:18 GMT -8
Jonathan !
I do not see why it should be easier to read everything on the web rather than on "paper", except for the cost !
How will you know there is not a website written in chinese, russian, or so on the subject you are interested in ...
A+, Michel
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Post by nomihoudai on Apr 3, 2013 10:44:56 GMT -8
That is not the main point. It is easier to update/correct a website than a book. The scientific names are always written in Latin alphabet, google will track these |
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Post by jonathan on Apr 3, 2013 11:26:23 GMT -8
Jonathan ! I do not see why it should be easier to read everything on the web rather than on "paper", except for the cost ! How will you know there is not a website written in chinese, russian, or so on the subject you are interested in ... A+, Michel Hi Michel, Even on Chinese bidding sites, the scientific name is normally used so it is not that difficult to Google up the names. If you had to try it yourself for example Google the word erebia and search for pdf files from the advanced search options, (or else type erebia filetype:pdf in the Google search bar), you will get this paper amongst other scientific papers which is in Russian (or some East spoken language): www.ckff.si/publikacije/erebia.pdfThat is the power of a search engine which can never be replicated in a book. So there's no need to buy any books, no need for shelf space, can be downloaded on one's pc/tablet/mobile and taken where ever needed. That's the beauty of technology in other words |
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Post by wollastoni on Apr 3, 2013 23:35:34 GMT -8
Jonathan < books will always be useful and important tools. I will always be happy to buy them.
I think we need more websites, I don't think we need less books.
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mygos
Full Member
Posts: 230
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Post by mygos on Apr 4, 2013 0:09:16 GMT -8
Thank you Olivier !
To Jonathan : If I do your research with Cymothoe filitype:pdf which is my favorite genus, I only find a few pdf related to them !
I obviously do some research on the web, but it is far from listing everything that has been published.
Then there is the problem of validity of what is found on the web, especially on private blogs, pages and so on that will disapear from the web when the guy is dead or has forgotten to pay for the host server fees ?
I am annoyed when a publication on the web is altered so often as it is impossible to refer to it in case of synonymy at one moment ?
Note : sorry, but my english is not good enough to explain exactly what I mean on the subject ...
A+, Michel
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Post by bobw on Apr 4, 2013 2:04:36 GMT -8
The biggest problem with websites is that they are not recognised by the ICZN. For a name to be validly published it must be in a book or properly published journal. If a name is only mentioned on a website, even if properly described, it is not officially recognised. The main reason for this would appear to be that websites are dynamic and can be changed; this means there can be no stability unlike something published on paper which is thereafter forever fixed.
Whilst websites are a useful tool, unless a way can be found of fixing them at a moment in time to the ICZN's satisfaction, they will never have any standing in nomenclature.
Bob
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