Curation and Revitalization of the Recent Mammal Collection,Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History

洛杉矶县自然历史博物馆的哺乳动物学部分在过去几十年中发展迅速，现在有超过85,000个已编目的标本，以及大约9,000个未编目的积压标本。在规模上，这个哺乳动物收藏在北美排名第九，在世界上最大的20个收藏中名列前茅。这些藏品包括来自世界各地的热带物种代表，以及海洋哺乳动物实验室的藏品。该科最近建立了冰冻组织收集和分子生物学实验室设施，这是一种用于重建分类群体之间进化关系的工具。哺乳动物科副馆长Sarah George博士建议完成积压标本的所有准备和计算机编目工作。拟议的策展活动将把重要的藏品纳入研究的主流。在它们被适当地准备、整理并输入LACM计算机数据库之前，研究人员很难，如果不是不可能的话，获得对这些重要标本的访问和知识。自然历史博物馆的系统收藏品是地球上生命进化最具可读性的形式。生态学、系统学、生物地理学和进化生物学的研究人员完全依赖于这些研究资源，它们的持续增长和适当的管理至关重要。

The Mammalogy Section of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History has exhibited rapid growth over the past several decades, and now comprises more than 85,000 catalogued specimens, as well as an uncatalogued backlog of approximately 9,000 additional specimens. In size, this mammal collection is the ninth largest in North America and ranks among the 20 largest collections in the world. The collection includes representatives of tropical species from around the world, as well as the holdings of the Marine Mammal Laboratory. The Section has recently established a frozen tissue collection and laboratory facilities for molecular biology, a tool used in reconstructing the evolutionary relationships among taxonomic groups. Dr. Sarah George, Associate Curator in the Section of Mammalogy, proposes completion of all preparation and computer cataloging of the backlogged specimens. The proposed curatorial activities will bring important collections into the mainstream of research. Until they are properly prepared, curated, and entered into the LACM computer database, it is difficult, if not impossible, for researchers to gain access to and knowledge of these important specimens. Systematic collections in natural history museums are the most readable form of the evolution of life on earth. Researchers in ecology, systematics, biogeography and evolutionary biology are completely dependent on these research resources, and their continued growth and proper curation are critically important.