Re-housing and Database Development of the Primary Type Specimens in the Entomological Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences

原生模式标本在科学研究中具有特殊的地位，因为它是物种识别的基础。《国际动物命名规则》规定，持有原始模式标本的机构应采取一切必要步骤，安全保存这些标本，使其可供研究，并公布其收藏的模式标本清单。自然科学院昆虫系收藏昆虫及相关无脊椎动物初级型标本11000余种。目前主要类型标本的外壳不符合标准，陈旧的金属柜和退化的毛毡垫圈几乎不能防止害虫的入侵，也不能大大改善室温和湿度的波动。橱柜里的一些抽屉有明显的缝隙，也可能让害虫进入。许多昆虫类群的模式标本在每个储存托盘中储存多个物种，使每个标本受到不必要的处理，并且在将松散的部分与适当的标本重新联系起来时造成问题。其中一些标本过去曾与其他机构交换过，由于自然科学院昆虫学系缺乏现有的模式标本收藏清单，给研究人员造成了不必要的困惑，阻碍了他们的科学研究。该项目将在最先进的橱柜中重新安置模式标本，并扩展到更安全的存储，每个存储单元只存储一个物种。这个项目还将发展一种初级计算机数据库，用于再收藏过程，帮助管理收藏，最重要的是，通过可搜索的互联网接入，向全世界的用户提供。整个为期两年的项目将耗资124,020美元。自然科学院和布拉德利遗产基金会（由康奈尔大学管理）将提供31588美元（35%）；其余部分由美国国家科学基金会资助。准确的物种识别在科学研究中至关重要，例如，作为了解全球生物多样性的工具，确认入侵或有益物种的识别，或帮助确定受威胁物种的特征。初级模式标本是准确鉴定的基础，在稳定全球科学家、政府机构、保护主义者、教育工作者和学生使用的物种命名系统中起着重要作用。模式标本不仅必须保存下来供现在和后代使用，而且标本所提供的信息必须可供全世界使用。该项目不仅保存了标本，而且当世界各地的用户需要时，还可以通过互联网获得有关标本的信息。这个项目中主要类型标本的重新安置、编目和互联网访问都是未来几年标本数字成像和互联网图像访问的必要的第一步。

A primary type specimen holds a special status in scientific research, as it is the name-bearer specimen on which the recognition of the species is based. The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature states that institutions holding primary type specimens should take all necessary steps for their safe preservation, make them accessible for study and publish lists of the type specimens in their collections. The Entomology Department of the Academy of Natural Sciences has holdings of over 11,000 primary type specimens of insects and related invertebrates. The current housing of the primary type specimens is sub-standard, with antiquated metal cabinets with degraded felt gaskets that do little to prevent intrusions by pests and do not ameliorate greatly the fluctuations in room temperature and humidity. Some drawers in the cabinets show significant gaps that also can allow pests to enter. The type specimens of many groups of insects are stored with multiple species per storage tray, subjecting each specimen to unnecessary handling and causing problems in re-associating loose parts with the appropriate specimen. Some of the collections have been exchanged with other institutions in the past, and the lack of available lists of type specimen holdings of the Entomology Department at the Academy of Natural Sciences has caused unnecessary confusion for researchers and hindered their scientific research. This project will re-house the type specimens in state of the art cabinetry, and expand to safer storage of just one species per storage unit. This project will also develop a primary type computer database that will be used in the re-curation process, to help in collection management, and most importantly, to be available to users worldwide, through searchable Internet access. The entire two-year project will cost $124,020. The Academy of Natural Sciences and the Bradley Bequest (administered through Cornell University) will provide $31,588 (35%); the remainder is funded through the National Science Foundation. Accurate species identification is essential in scientific research, for example, as a tool for understanding global biological diversity, to confirm the identify of an invasive or beneficial species, or to help characterize a threatened species. Primary type specimens serve as the foundation of accurate identifications and act in an important role in stabilizing the naming system of species that is used worldwide by scientists, government agencies, conservationists, educators, and students. The type specimens not only must be preserved for use now and for future generations, but the information available with the specimens must be available for use worldwide. This project not only preserves the specimens, but the information on the specimen holdings will be available through the internet to users worldwide when they need to use it. This re-housing, cataloging, and internet accessibility for the primary type specimens in this project are all necessary first steps toward subsequent digital imaging of the specimens and internet image access in future years.