This provides a valuable indicator of customer use. Many specialist journals used by taxonomists are not covered by the SCI, so monitoring their use remains a challenge. Trials of peer-reviewed electronic publication began in 1997. An electronic log viewer can quantify their use and allow feedback from users. Thus, Kew's 'Angiosperm DNA C-value database' logged over 4,000 enquiries since April 1997.
Research papers offer a rapid and effective communication with our 'customers' in many fields.
Listed in reports and CVs, they also provide a measure of scientific productivity and help to assess performance at all levels, from individual scientists to the institution. They could not be accommodated in other genera and so a new genus, Macrocybe, was proposed.