Improvement of Entomological Collections at Carnegie Museum of Natural History with Emphasis on Lepidoptera

卡内基自然历史博物馆改进昆虫学收藏，重点关注鳞翅目

• 批准号: 9509570
• 负责人: John Rawlins
• 金额: $ 89.99万
• 依托单位: Carnegie Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1995
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1995-10-01 至 1999-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9509570&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Improvement; Entomological; Collections; Carnegie; Museum

The entomological collections at The Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) are scientific resources of international significance, containing 6.5 million prepared specimens and more than five million unprepared ones. Among New World institutions, CMNH has the third largest collection of Lepidoptera and the most diverse collection of Afrotropical insects, associated with a library of exceptional historical coverage for systematic research. The rate that CMNH specimens are being used by researchers and students has risen dramatically in recent years with specimen loans and scientific visitors at the highest levels in CMNH history. Collection growth is at unprecedented levels, due to fieldwork worldwide, donation of private collections, and survey programs addressing biodiversity issues. Specimen integrity, research use, and growth of the collection are hindered by housing problems. More than half of available wooden storage equipment is in perilous condition; only 22% of existing storage is acceptable by modern standards. Old insect drawers housing the Lepidoptera are frag ile and breaking with age, and are unsuitable for using unit trays. Specimens are packed into drawers at maximum density, preventing curation and hindering use in research. Collections in fluids and on glass slides require modern storage. Backlog preparation is required for specimens of unique value, including 130,00 papered Lepidoptera and fragile specimens in alcoholic bulk samples. This three-year project will resolve these problems by accomplishing the following goals: 1. Renovate new space in the Carnegie Museum for expanding collection storage and associated research areas (CMNH cost-sharing; see Appendix 2, J-49). 2. Transfer and rehouse 41% of the Lepidoptera collection into a compactorized storage system containing quality drawers and unity trays (NSF funding requested for labor and storage equipment; CMNH cost-sharing for labor). 3. Transfer to new drawers and unit trays all non-Lepidoptera currently in unacceptable temporary containers (NSF funding requested for labor and storage equipment). 4. Obtain equipment necessary for transfer, maintenance, and curation of the collection (NSF funding requested for stereomicroscopes, computers, printers, and freezers for non- chemical pest control). 5. Provide special attention to specimens of exceptional scientific value ( NSF funding requested for labor to segregate and conserve type specimens and to prepare specimens of greatest value form backlog storage; CMNH cost-sharing for labor to recondition historically important specimens). 6. Provide preliminary curation of taxa currently represented by large numbers of prepared but unsorted specimens (CMNH cost-sharing for visiting specialists).

卡内基自然历史博物馆（CMNH）的昆虫学藏品是具有国际意义的科学资源，其中包括650万个准备好的标本和500多万个未准备好的标本。在新大陆的研究机构中，CMNH拥有第三大的鳞翅目和最多样化的非洲热带昆虫收藏，并与一个特殊的历史覆盖图书馆相关联，以进行系统的研究。近年来，研究人员和学生使用CMNH标本的比率急剧上升，标本借阅和科学访客达到了CMNH历史上的最高水平。由于世界范围内的实地考察、私人收藏的捐赠以及解决生物多样性问题的调查项目，藏品的增长达到了前所未有的水平。标本的完整性、研究用途和收藏的增长受到住房问题的阻碍。一半以上的可用木制储存设备处于危险状态；只有22%的现有存储符合现代标准。装鳞翅目的旧昆虫抽屉易碎，随着时间的推移而破裂，不适合使用单元托盘。标本以最大的密度装在抽屉里，妨碍了管理，妨碍了研究的使用。液体和玻片上的收集需要现代化的储存方式。需要对具有独特价值的标本进行积压准备，包括13万份纸质鳞翅目标本和酒精散装样品中的易碎标本。这个为期三年的项目将通过实现以下目标来解决这些问题：翻新卡内基博物馆的新空间，以扩大收藏存储和相关的研究领域（CMNH成本分担；见附录2，J-49）。2. 将41%的鳞翅目标本转移并重新安置到一个紧凑的存储系统中，该系统包含优质抽屉和统一托盘（人工和存储设备要求NSF资助；CMNH人工费用分担）。3. 将目前在不可接受的临时容器中的所有非鳞翅目动物转移到新的抽屉和单元托盘中（要求NSF资助人工和存储设备）。4. 获得转移、维护和收藏所需的设备（NSF资助用于非化学害虫控制的立体显微镜、计算机、打印机和冰柜）。5. 对具有特殊科学价值的标本给予特别关注（美国国家科学基金要求人工隔离和保存模式标本，并从积压储存中准备最有价值的标本；CMNH为人工修复历史上重要的标本分担费用）。6. 提供目前由大量已准备但未分类的标本所代表的分类群的初步管理（CMNH访问专家费用分担）。