Branching identification key
Encyclopedia
A branching identification key is a presentation form of a single-access key
where the structure of the decision tree is displayed graphically as a branching structure, involving lines between items. Depending on the number of branches at a single point, a branching key may be dichotomous or polytomous.
In a diagnostic key, the branching structure of the key should not be mistaken for a phylogenetic or cladistic branching pattern.
All single-access keys form a decision tree (or graph if reticulation
exists), and thus all such keys have a branching structure. "Branching key" may therefore occasionally be used as a synonym for single-access key.
Single-access key
A 'key' in Biology is a modeling method used for categorizing species using logical choices. A single-access key is a key where the sequence and structure of identification steps is fixed by the author of the key...
where the structure of the decision tree is displayed graphically as a branching structure, involving lines between items. Depending on the number of branches at a single point, a branching key may be dichotomous or polytomous.
In a diagnostic key, the branching structure of the key should not be mistaken for a phylogenetic or cladistic branching pattern.
All single-access keys form a decision tree (or graph if reticulation
Reticulation (single-access key)
In biology, a reticulation of a single-access identification key connects different branches of the identification tree to improve error tolerance and identification success...
exists), and thus all such keys have a branching structure. "Branching key" may therefore occasionally be used as a synonym for single-access key.
Examples of branching presentations
- http://www.warwickshire-sss.org.uk/subject/science/Biological_keys_v2.htm
- Figure 19.5 in
- Page 8 in .