Revitalization of the Utah Museum of Natural History Collection of Recent Mammals

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The Mammal Collection of the University of Utah's Museum of Natural History comprises 28,000 specimens, most of which represent the fauna of the western U.S. After a period of very low research activity, Dr. Eric Rickart, Curator in charge of the collection, has instituted an aggressive program of research and curatorial improvement in the collection. A computer catalog has been prepared, physical facilities have been renovated, and an inventory and reorganization of the collection will be initiated. Curatorial improvements to this collection will have significant impact on zoological research and education in Utah. Natural history collections such as this are irreplaceable libraries of data concerning life on earth, and they form the foundation for research on systematics, evolution, ecology, and other facets of biology. This collection provides an excellent record of an important vertebrate fauna, against which future changes will be measured. Future generations of research will depend on its continued care and growth.