Five Kingdoms: A Multimedia Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth

(World Biodiversity Database CD-ROM Series)

by Lynn W. Margulis and Karlene V. Schwartz

Publisher: Springer Verlag; CD-ROM edition (November 2003)

ISBN: 3540408665

 

reviewed by Fuad Safwat, Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Boston

 

 

The Five Kingdoms CD-ROM is an electronic reference guide to our planets’ biodiversity as outlined in Five Kingdoms by Lynn Margulis and Karlene Schwartz. In their system of classification the authors recognize the kingdoms of bacteria, protoctista, fungi, plants and animals with a total of 96 phyla living at present.  This is an illustrated guide to the diversity of life on Earth, the appearance of many organisms, habitats they occupy and relationships as well as classification.

 

The CD-ROM includes descriptions of all five kingdoms and every phylum within each kingdom.  For each phylum a list of genera that are significant research models are provided. The program also includes further readings. In the discussion of each phylum there is a representative scene pointing to the “typical” habitats of members of the phylum. Photographs and drawings of representative species complement the text.

 

From the CD-ROM screen, one can access the contents.  Upon clicking on one of the kingdoms, a list of its phyla appears.  In addition, each phylum has its own separate section.   There are many thumbnail images that can be clicked on to obtain a full image.

 

More menu options are provided at the top of the content screen.  These options include:

An introduction, a gallery (which contains 11 plates of thumbnail pictures and video clips), a glossary (with explanations of about 1300 scientific terms), a field trip section with information about National Museums and Parks worldwide, plus links to relevant web sites, and a Quiz section (to test student knowledge) as well as a Search button.

 

The text is illustrated by rich multimedia presentations including more than 500 photographs and drawings as well as 37 video clips.

 

The CD- ROM is a useful educational tool that can help the students to visualize the material included in the text and afford them an opportunity to pursue further investigations and learning models. By using the quiz section, they can assess their learning progress. The close connection between the Five Kingdoms textbook and the CD-ROM provides a clear advantage to anyone interested in learning about living organisms on Earth.

 

Mac users should note that they cannot use OS X with the current form of the CD ROM; they will need to have system 9 available.

The views and opinions expressed in all articles that appear in "Conservation Perspectives" are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of NESCB.