Ecological and resource management information transfer for Laguna de Terminos, Mexico: A computerized interface

Abstract This paper describes a bilingual, interactive, and user‐friendly information system to expedite the organization and transfer findings about Laguna de Terminos, a coastal lagoon in the southern Gulf of Mexico. This system was designed to ease the transfer of research data and results to environmental managers and is built in a manner that simplifies the addition of information modules as they are developed. Use of this graphically oriented interface allows the user access to a wide range of scientific information presented as maps, graphs, and computer simulations. The program includes animation of fish migrations and predictions for shrimp aquaculture scenarios. We discuss recent developments in microcomputer technology, making it possible to deliver to the desktop computer of the researcher or manager a wide range of capabilities and data that previously could only be accessed on expensive and user‐unfriendly mainframe computers.

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