Curation and Data Capture for Reptilian and Amphibian Biodiversity at American Museum of Natural History

美国自然历史博物馆（AMNH）爬行动物部保存着世界上最大、全球范围内种类繁多、应用最广泛的两栖动物和爬行动物标本科学收藏之一。这些记录是计算机化的，但服务用户受到两个主要问题的阻碍：(1)由于过去使用的金属标签正在腐蚀，大约一半的标本可能会与它们的数据分离；(2)电子记录中捕获的数据存在空白。国家科学基金会的支持将允许同时更换金属标签和完成数据捕获，改进数据库以准备进入因特网，并继续为国际用户社区服务的当前活动。(1)金属标签：从1912年到1965年，有唯一目录编号的金属标签被绑在180126个存放在酒精中的标本上。金属标签正在腐蚀，有些已经完全无法辨认，有些已经从样本上脱落。因此，标本有可能与它们的数据完全分离，这将是科学的悲剧性损失。(2)数据采集：电子数据库是根据原始的手写目录分类账编制的。然而，我们最近发现，在过去的几十年里，分类帐中的数据经常被其他来源的数据缩写（例如，罐子标签，3 X 5“卡片文件）。因此，来自这些其他来源的数据需要在与标本分离之前进行电子捕获。这些爬虫类标本已经积累了130多年的历史，这些标本是由AMNH在世界各地的考察、购买的具有历史价值的标本以及从其他机构捐赠的私人或孤儿标本得来的。该收藏包含315,784个单独编目的标本。此外，还有20,000个标本等待编目。藏品包括世界上100%的两栖动物和爬行动物家族，80%的属，约6800种（超过55%）。有超过650种主要类型（用于物种原始描述的标本）。该收藏的范围是全球性的，在西半球、非洲、巴基斯坦、中国、新几内亚、澳大利亚和太平洋岛屿具有特殊优势。这些藏品每天都被学生和专业科学家用于全球生物多样性研究。例如，我们每年提供2100-4100份标本的贷款，目前有169份贷款向14个国家的学者开放。此外，去年39名研究人员在该部门现场研究了261天的标本。以馆藏为基础的出版物是自然科学主要技术文献的一部分，内容包括：(1)发现新物种；(2)动物调查（资源调查、经济发展、自然保护区选址、保护）；(3)几十年后的后续调查；(4)专著或其他关于特定生物群体的研究，包括潜在的医学（药物开发）或其他重要性的研究。通过支持世界各地不同大学的本科生、研究生和博士后的研究，这些藏品也广泛用于教育。

The Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) conserves one of the world's largest, globally diverse and most broadly utilized scientific collections of amphibian and reptile specimens. The records are computerized, but servicing users is hampered by two major problems:(1) about half of the specimens may become dissociated from their data owing to past use of metal tags that are corroding; and (2) gaps in data captured occur in the electronic records. NSF support would allow metal tag replacement and completing of data capture concurrently, improving the database in preparation for going onto the internet, and continuing current activities in serving the international user community. (1) Metal Tags: From 1912-1965 metal tags with unique catalog numbers were tied to 180,126 specimens stored in alcohol. The metal tags are corroding, some have become completely illegible, and some have fallen off their specimen. Consequently, specimens are at risk of becoming completely dissociated from their data, which would be a tragic loss to science. (2) Data Capture: The electronic database was compiled from the original hand-written catalog ledgers. We have recently discovered, however, that in past decades data in the ledgers were often abbreviated from other sources (e.g., jar labels, 3 X 5" card file). Thus, data from these other sources need electronic capture before they become dissociated from the specimens. The herpetological collection has accumulated for more than 130 years, obtained by AMNH expeditions around the world, purchase of historically valuable collections, and donations of private or orphaned collections from other institutions. The collection contains 315,784 individually cataloged specimens. In addition, 20,000 specimens await cataloging. The collection includes 100% of the world's families of amphibians and reptiles, 80% of the genera, and about 6,800 species (over 55%). There are more than 650 primary types (specimens used for original descriptions of the species). The collection is global in scope, with special strengths in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, Pakistan, China, New Guinea, Australia, and Pacific islands. The collections are used daily by students and professional scientists for global biodiversity research. For example, we provide loans involving 2100-4100 specimens per year and 169 loans are now open to scholars in 14 countries. In addition, last year 39 researchers studied specimens on-site in the Department for 261 days. Publications based on the collections are part of the primary technical literature in the natural sciences concerning: (1) discovery of new species; (2) faunal surveys (resource inventories, economic development, siting of nature preserves, conservation); (3) follow-up surveys decades later; and (4) monographs, or other research on specific groups of organisms, including ones of potential medical (pharmaceutical development) or other importance. The collections are also used extensively in education, by supporting the research conducted by undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students at diverse universities around the world.