diff --git a/compare.go b/compare.go
index 3e26302..2f2b5dc 100644
--- a/compare.go
+++ b/compare.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func handleCompare(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) *appError {
 		// maps to translate ids
 		strains := make(map[string]string)
 		for _, strain := range *measurementsPayload.Strains {
-			strains[fmt.Sprintf("%d", strain.Id)] = strain.StrainName
+			strains[fmt.Sprintf("%d", strain.Id)] = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", strain.SpeciesName(), strain.StrainName)
 		}
 		characteristics := make(map[string]string)
 		for _, characteristic := range *measurementsPayload.Characteristics {
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func handleCompare(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) *appError {
 		wr := csv.NewWriter(b)
 
 		// Write header row
-		r := []string{""}
+		r := []string{"Characteristic"}
 		for _, strain_id := range strain_ids {
 			r = append(r, strains[strain_id])
 		}
diff --git a/strains.go b/strains.go
index 3543837..b0fa330 100644
--- a/strains.go
+++ b/strains.go
@@ -93,6 +93,14 @@ func (s StrainService) unmarshal(b []byte) (entity, error) {
 	return &sj, err
 }
 
+func (s StrainBase) SpeciesName() string {
+	var species SpeciesBase
+	if err := DBH.Get(&species, s.SpeciesId); err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return species.SpeciesName
+}
+
 func (s StrainService) list(val *url.Values, claims *Claims) (entity, *appError) {
 	if val == nil {
 		return nil, ErrMustProvideOptionsJSON