Expansion and Rehousing of the Vertebrate Collections of the Utah Museum of Natural History

犹他州自然历史博物馆(UMNH)拥有超过71,000份脊椎动物(哺乳动物、鸟类、爬行动物和两栖动物)标本的科学研究藏品。这些藏品一直在稳步增长和扩大使用，目前的博物馆设施已不再足够。UMNH正在建造一座耗资1.03亿美元的新建筑，其中将包括气候控制收集、储存和新的研究实验室。该项目将资助新的收藏品储藏柜和货架，以及用于储存脊椎动物组织收藏品的冷冻机，并将支持将脊椎动物收藏品转移到新设施。UMNH脊椎动物收藏范围是国际的，但重点是美国西部生物丰富的山间地区。作为区域生物多样性的主要资源，它们被各级科学家、资源管理者、教育工作者和学生使用。它们支持对更广泛的主题进行科学研究。它们的历史深度为我们提供了关于气候变化和改变土地利用方式如何改变该地区动物群落的洞察力。这些藏品构成了博物馆展品和关于区域自然历史和科学研究的公共项目的基础，强调历史收藏品与当前资源管理和保护的相关性。该项目将通过改进藏品储存、维护和可获取性来加强所有这些活动。

The Utah Museum of Natural History (UMNH) holds scientific research collections of more than 71,000 specimens of vertebrate animals (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians). There has been steady growth and expanding use of these collections, and the present museum facility is no longer adequate. UMNH is constructing a new $103M building that will include climate-controlled collection storage and new research laboratories. This project will fund new collection storage cabinets and shelving, a freezer for storing the vertebrate tissue collection, and will support moving the vertebrate collections to the new facility. The UMNH vertebrate collections are international in scope, but emphasize the biologically rich Intermountain Region of the western USA. As a primary resource on regional biodiversity, they are used by scientists, resource managers, educators and students at all levels. They support scientific research on an expanding range of topics. Their historical depth provides insight into how climate change and shifting land-use practices have altered animal communities in this region. The collections form the basis for museum exhibits and public programs on regional natural history and scientific research, emphasizing the relevance of historical collections to current resource management and conservation. This project will augment all of these activities through improvements in collection storage, maintenance and accessibility.