CSBR: Natural History: Preservation of Carnegie Museum of Natural History's Herpetology Collection

该项目将提高卡内基自然历史博物馆爬虫收藏的安全性、保存性和可访问性，这是一个拥有235，000多个标本的世界级资源。这些藏品包括来自经历了剧烈环境变化或未来可能面临重大变化的地区的大量历史藏品。最近引用该收藏的研究证实了新的和不可预测的科学范式，环境问题和技术进步如何需要广泛和可访问的历史科学收藏的存在。遗传学，分子生物遗传学，博物馆组学，生物力学，全球变化，新兴疾病和入侵物种是最近使用该标本的研究领域。根据最近评估的建议，这些评估确定了影响藏品及其相关数据的一些紧迫挑战，卡内基自然历史博物馆制定了一项广泛的计划，以保护和增加对藏品的访问，确保这一重要资源得以持续，并能够支持后代的研究。在美国同类收藏中排名第十，卡内基自然历史博物馆的爬虫学收藏跨越了170个国家100多年的科学收藏。它包括148个正模标本和2，007个标本（原始物种描述中使用的具有特殊科学和历史意义的标本），6个灭绝和78个极度濒危物种的标本，以及世界上最大的海龟收藏之一。通过这一奖项，卡内基自然历史博物馆将：a）优化存储空间，以改善策展和访问，并减轻因过度拥挤和次优容器而造成的保存风险; B）与特定标本相关的保密档案数据，为藏品提供重要的背景; c）加入和目录ca。12，000个标本、地理参考位置数据，并使全模标本和标本的数据和图像可数字化获取; d）更新整个科的分类，并相应地重新组织收藏品; e）通过开发新的基于收藏品的计划和展览，提高公众对收藏品和研究价值的认识。确保长期保存和提供该科的标本和相关数据是支持今后研究工作的关键。同样，重要档案记录的数字化将扩大收集的相关性，用于生态学，分类学，保护和自然历史收藏的历史研究。更新分类学和地理参照额外的记录将提高生物多样性数据的准确性，提高对全球研究界的有用性。此外，合作规划将导致实施新的教育方案和两个新的博物馆展览，旨在提高公众对收藏品研究价值的认识，并增加对收藏品在公众日常生活中重要性的了解。项目结果可在网上查阅（www.carnegiemnh.org/projects/alcohol-house），数据将通过iDigBio（www.idigbio.org）、VertNet和全球生物多样性信息设施共享和提供。

This project will improve the security, preservation, and accessibility of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History Herpetological Collection, a world-class resource of over 235,000 specimens. This collection includes large historical holdings from areas that have undergone drastic environmental change or may face important change in the future. Recent research citing the collection exemplifies how new and unpredicted scientific paradigms, environmental issues, and technological advances require the existence of extensive and accessible historical scientific collections. Genetics, molecular phylogenetics, museomics, biomechanics, global change, emerging diseases, and invasive species are research areas for which specimens from this collection have recently been used. Based on recommendations from recent assessments that identified a number of urgent challenges affecting the collection and its related data, Carnegie Museum of Natural History has developed an extensive plan to preserve and increase access to the collection, ensuring that this important resource is sustained and able to support research for generations to come. Ranking tenth among US collections of its kind, the Herpetology Collection at Carnegie Museum of Natural History spans more than 100 years of scientific collecting in 170 countries. It includes 148 holotypes and 2,007 paratypes (specimens of special scientific and historic significance used in the original species descriptions), specimens of six extinct and 78 critically endangered species, and one of the world's largest turtle collections. Through this award, Carnegie Museum of Natural History will: a) optimize storage space to improve curation and access and mitigate preservation risks due to overcrowding and suboptimal containers; b) digitize vouchered archival data related to specific specimens, providing vital context for the collection; c) accession and catalog ca. 12,000 specimens, georeference locality data, and make data and images of holotypes and paratypes digitally accessible; d) update taxonomy throughout the Section and reorganize the collection accordingly; e) enhance the public's appreciation of the value of collections and research by developing new collections-based programs and exhibits. Ensuring the long-term preservation and availability of the Section's specimens and related data is key for supporting future research efforts. Likewise, digitizing important archival records will expand the relevance of the collection for studies in ecology, systematics, conservation, and the history of natural history collections. Updating taxonomy and georeferencing additional records will enhance the precision of biodiversity data, improving usefulness to the global research community. In addition, collaborative planning will lead to the implementation of new educational programming and two new museum exhibits designed to enhance the public's appreciation of the value of collections for research and increase understanding of the collection's importance in the public's day-to-day life. Project results are available on line (www.carnegiemnh.org/projects/alcohol-house), and data will be shared and made available through iDigBio (www.idigbio.org), VertNet, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).