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"Biological collections"
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Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy in the Digitization of Arthropods’ Biological Collections
Among biological museum specimens, many relatively small organisms are difficult to observe macroscopically. Therefore, their attractiveness to visitors is limited. To present such small objects, various magnifying techniques can be used in combination with the digital presentation of the specimens. In this conference report, we describe how we use amalgamating techniques, along with their advantages and limitations. Our strategy uses light and electron microscopy to present small biological specimens. Light microscopy enables the observation of organisms in their natural colors but does not allow precise observation of very small microstructures, such as setae, ommatidia, and cuticle sculpture. In turn, scanning electron microscopy, thanks to its very good resolution and the possibility of obtaining higher magnifications, allows the observation of fine details of structure, but the objects are presented in grayscale. We present the scheme we use to prepare arthropods that are stored as museum specimens for digitization and subsequent presentation to visitors. Our strategy enables the comprehensive use of the specimens, as well as limiting the number of museum specimens used to prepare digital collections and reducing the number of individuals captured in the wild.
Journal Article
Curating biocultural collections : a handbook
\"Biocultural collections document the remarkable richness and diversity of human engagements with nature. This handbook, written and edited by experts from around the world, is the first practical resource for those involved in the use and curation of such collections.\"--Page 4 of cover.
Book
Integrating Citizen Science with Online Biological Collections to Promote Species and Biodiversity Literacy in an Entomology Course
The integration of citizen science into undergraduate STEM courses improves science practice skills, enables students to contribute to the global collection of species occurrence data, and may increase understanding and appreciation of biodiversity. We integrated citizen science with a traditional insect collection in an entomology course at a liberal arts college. The activity targeted improvement of species and biodiversity literacy skills using online biological collections and identification resources. The citizen science component required students to upload images of insects to an online resource (BugGuide). We used formative and summative assessments, as well as a survey of students' experiences and perceptions to determine effectiveness. Formative assessments were useful in developing appreciation of citizen science and insect identification skills, whereas summative assessments revealed variable levels of achievement of species and biodiversity literacy. Students reported that the resources were useful in identifying specimens and learning about biodiversity, but some did not feel they were contributing as citizen scientists. They expected to earn a higher grade on their collection than they did; the lower-than-expected grades were mostly due to errors in identification and curation. The assignment and assessments can be easily modified for any course that includes examination of biodiversity and a citizen science component, including introductory biology, non-STEM-major diversity courses, and upper-level zoology or botany. Our semester-long approach to integrating biodiversity content and concepts with citizen science and online biological collections promotes species and biodiversity literacy.
Journal Article
Data integration enables global biodiversity synthesis
The accessibility of global biodiversity information has surged in the past two decades, notably through widespread funding initiatives for museum specimen digitization and emergence of large-scale public participation in community science. Effective use of these data requires the integration of disconnected datasets, but the scientific impacts of consolidated biodiversity data networks have not yet been quantified. To determine whether data integration enables novel research, we carried out a quantitative text analysis and bibliographic synthesis of >4,000 studies published from 2003 to 2019 that use data mediated by the world’s largest biodiversity data network, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Data available through GBIF increased 12-fold since 2007, a trend matched by global data use with roughly two publications using GBIF-mediated data per day in 2019. Data-use patterns were diverse by authorship, geographic extent, taxonomic group, and dataset type. Despite facilitating global authorship, legacies of colonial science remain. Studies involving species distribution modeling were most prevalent (31% of literature surveyed) but recently shifted in focus from theory to application. Topic prevalence was stable across the 17-y period for some research areas (e.g., macroecology), yet other topics proportionately declined (e.g., taxonomy) or increased (e.g., species interactions, disease). Although centered on biological subfields, GBIF-enabled research extends surprisingly across all major scientific disciplines. Biodiversity data mobilization through global data aggregation has enabled basic and applied research use at temporal, spatial, and taxonomic scales otherwise not possible, launching biodiversity sciences into a new era.
Journal Article
Discovering the ecological secrets of Alsodes cantillanensis (Anura: Alsodidae): Dietary knowledge through computerized microtomography
La microtomografía computarizada es una herramienta importante para comprender la historia natural de las especies utilizando colecciones biológicas. Aquí reportamos los primeros datos de dieta de Alsodes cantillanensis Charrier, Correa, Castro & Méndez, 2015. Usando esta técnica, encontramos restos de Diplopoda y Coleóptera en el tracto digestivo de un macho de la localidad tipo, proporcionando valiosa información sobre la ecología de la especie. Estos hallazgos pueden ser útiles para diseñar estrategias de conservación para esta especie en peligro de extinción.
Journal Article
A students' opinion on the importance of natural history collections and taxonomy in Brazil
Natural history collections (NHCs) contain valuable information that can be used in different fields of knowledge, and aid in the development of society, science, and technology. The role of curators and taxonomists in maintaining and improving biological collections is essential, as these are fundamental for the understanding of biodiversity. However, the role of taxonomists and the importance of NHCs to society have been undervalued in recent years. We, while attending a graduate program on collections at PUCRS, noted a gap in knowledge about scientific collections. Was this gap, which continued from our undergraduate to graduate years, a mere coincidence or widespread in biological science programs in Brazil? We queried 126 Brazilian institutions of higher education to assess the presence of courses related to natural-history collections and taxonomy. A total of 25 private and 37 public universities from 126 institutions searched, have a program of study in biological sciences in the curriculum on their websites. About 16% offer some course related to NHCs or taxonomy, and all of them are public institutions. Despite the budget cutting made by the Brazilian government that make it even more difficult to recognize NHCs and related areas, we believe that there should be more links among researchers from different areas and especially between the levels of basic and higher education, so that students are exposed to this subject early in their education. We, as Brazilian students, believe that more information on NHC-related issues and taxonomic subjects is urgently needed in biological science programs.
Journal Article
Updated distribution map and notes on the cranial morphometry of Dasyprocta azarae Lichtenstein, 1823, Azara rsquo;s Agouti (Mammalia, Rodentia, Dasyproctidae), in South America
Dasyprocta azarae Lichtenstein, 1823 is currently distributed in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, with controversial records in Bolivia. Recent records using trail cameras have expanded its distribution in the Chaco region of Paraguay, but its distribution remains unclear because of its morphological similarity to species in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. We present an updated map of distribution of D. azarae based on the review of specimens in biological collections and literature. Our results show that D. azarae is distributed in four biomes, across 11 ecoregions, and has an extent of occurrence of 2,512,985 km2.
Journal Article
Collecting Experiments
Databases have revolutionized nearly every aspect of our lives. Information of all sorts is being collected on a massive scale, from Google to Facebook and well beyond. But as the amount of information in databases explodes, we are forced to reassess our ideas about what knowledge is, how it is produced, to whom it belongs, and who can be credited for producing it.
Every scientist working today draws on databases to produce scientific knowledge. Databases have become more common than microscopes, voltmeters, and test tubes, and the increasing amount of data has led to major changes in research practices and profound reflections on the proper professional roles of data producers, collectors, curators, and analysts.
Collecting Experiments traces the development and use of data collections, especially in the experimental life sciences, from the early twentieth century to the present. It shows that the current revolution is best understood as the coming together of two older ways of knowing—collecting and experimenting, the museum and the laboratory. Ultimately, Bruno J. Strasser argues that by serving as knowledge repositories, as well as indispensable tools for producing new knowledge, these databases function as digital museums for the twenty-first century.
eBook
Building Natural History Collections for the Twenty-First Century and Beyond
Natural history collections (NHCs) are important resources for a diverse array of scientific fields. Recent digitization initiatives have broadened the user base of NHCs, and new technological innovations are using materials generated from collections to address novel scientific questions. Simultaneously, NHCs are increasingly imperiled by reductions in funding and resources. Ensuring that NHCs continue to serve as a valuable resource for future generations will require the scientific community to increase their contribution to and acknowledgement of collections. We provide recommendations and guidelines for scientists to support NHCs, focusing particularly on new users that may be unfamiliar with collections. We hope that this perspective will motivate debate on the future of NHCs and the role of the scientific community in maintaining and improving biological collections.
Journal Article