[Taxacom] Google Trends

[Jim Croft]

ok, now that we are well and truly into full game mode, try 'biodiversity':
http://www.google.com/trends?q=biodiversity&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0
and note the steady and inexorable decline in interest.

This shows the same general pattern as interest in 'insects' - a
rigourous annual cycle with a sharp dip in jan/feb.  Interestingly the
distribution seems to be bimodal (spring/autumn?) and you can see this
in the 'insects' trends as well.  The steady overall decline in in
interest in matters biodiversity in government and media is something
we have felt here for some time - it ceased to be flavour of the month
almost to the extent of becoming a dirty word.

Try also 'taxonomy' for a similar downward trend:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=taxonomy&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

To convince yourselves we are not dealing with an artifact, try 'wiki':
http://www.google.com/trends?q=wiki&ctab=0

Have fun.  Apologies in advance to management everywhere for wasting
the rest of the working week as people check out the decline or
ascension of their personal passions.

jim

On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 10:55 AM, Weitzman, Anna <WEITZMAN at si.edu> wrote:
> Good point Jim.  And 2004 the spring/early summer in NE US when the 17-year cicada emerged.
>
> Anna
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu on behalf of Jim Croft
> Sent: Thu 15-May-08 8:36 PM
> To: Bob Mesibov
> Cc: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu; Jim.Croft at environment.gov.au
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Google Trends
>
>
>
> I like the rigourous annual cycle of interest in 'insects',
> correlating with N hemisphere warmer months...
>
> jim
>
> On Fri, May 16, 2008 at 10:00 AM, Bob Mesibov <mesibov at southcom.com.au> wrote:
>> This Google tool, apparently still in development, gives some curious
>> results. Look at the patterns for 'insects'
>>
>> http://www.google.com/trends?q=insects&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0
>>
>> 'entomology'
>>
>> http://www.google.com/trends?q=entomology&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0
>>
>> and 'coleoptera'
>>
>> http://www.google.com/trends?q=coleoptera&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0
>>
>> Many biodiversity-related search terms (including 'biodiversity') show a
>> downward trend over the past few years. To show that Trends can also
>> show a steadily rising trend, enter 'Ubuntu' (a Linux version) and click
>> on Search Trends. To see a flash in the pan, try 'tsunami'.
>>
>> And see
>>
>> http://www.google.com/intl/en/trends/about.html
>>
>> for Google's explanation of Trends.
>>
>> Thanks to TAXACOMer Jim Croft for pointing me to Trends!
>> --
>> Dr Robert Mesibov
>> Honorary Research Associate
>> Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and
>> School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
>> Home contact: PO Box 101, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia 7316
>> (03) 64371195; 61 3 64371195
>> http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/mesibov.html
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> _________________
> Jim Croft
> jim.croft at gmail.com
>
> "I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in
> order to enjoy ourselves."
> - Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher (1889-1951)
>
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>
>



-- 
_________________
Jim Croft
jim.croft at gmail.com

"I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in
order to enjoy ourselves."
- Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher (1889-1951)