Biological Collections: Crucial upgrades to specimen storage, organization, and database management at the rapidly growing Texas A&M Collection of Fishes

自然历史收藏记录了地球上过去和现在的生命，是研究生物多样性的宝贵和不可替代的资源。对自然历史收藏进行适当和长期的管理，包括实物标本及其相关数据，对于当代和未来研究人员的科学研究至关重要。德克萨斯A&A&M大学的鱼类收藏是以大学为基础的大量鱼类学收藏，在过去20年中经历了快速增长。这些藏品在德克萨斯州农工学院以及更具地区性的地方具有研究和教学的双重作用，为德克萨斯州和美国南部其他州的其他大学的研究人员提供参考资料和标本库。该项目的一个主要目标是对标本进行全范围的实物重组和重新管理，同时进行数据库平台迁移，以保护标本的实物和数字内容，促进增长，并全面提高服务于国内和国际鱼类学研究界以及日益增长的标本数据非传统用户(例如，K-12教育工作者、艺术家)的能力。目标还包括在自然历史标本管理和管理方面培训本科生和德克萨斯博物学家大师志愿者，新的本科生课程作业和专注于脊椎动物自然历史和鱼类学的K-12科学艺术研讨会，以及开发一个临时公开展览，展示这个大学收藏的稀有标本。该项目将包括安装新的货架和金属水箱，以促进对德克萨斯农工大学鱼类收藏中现有酒精标本的批发重组和重新管理，并为未来的增长创造充足的空间。全球独一无二的超大(10-14英尺)鲨鱼标本收藏将通过容器更新来确保安全，特别是将一个已有40年历史的定制橡木棺材更换为行业标准的密封金属单元。最后，数据管理平台的升级将改进基本的数字数据管理，并通过在线国际档案，包括通过iDigBio.org和VertNet.org，加强标本记录的实时提供。这些任务的完成将使德克萨斯A&M大学和全球可用于基础鱼类学教育、独特研究和发现的基础设施重新焕发活力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Natural history collections document life on earth, past and present, and represent an invaluable and irreplaceable resource for the study of biodiversity. Proper and long-term management of natural history collections, including both physical specimens and their associated data, is crucial for scientific research by contemporary and future researchers. The Collection of Fishes at Texas A&M University is a substantial university-based ichthyology collection that has experienced rapid growth over the last 20 years. This collection serves a dual research and teaching role on the Texas A&M campus and more regionally, acting as both reference collection and specimen repository for researchers at other universities in Texas and other southern US states. A major goal of this project is a collection-wide physical re-organization and re-curation of specimens, coupled with a database platform migration that will safeguard the physical and digital content of this collection, facilitate growth, and broadly improve capacity to serve the national and international ichthyological research community as well as a growing community of non-traditional users of specimen data (e.g., K-12 educators, artists). Goals also include training of undergraduate students and Texas Master Naturalist volunteers in natural history specimen curation and management, novel undergraduate student course assignments and K-12 science-based art workshops focused on vertebrate natural history and ichthyology, and development of a temporary public exhibit showcasing the rare specimens from this university-based collection. The project will involve installation of new shelving and metal tanks to facilitate wholesale reorganization and re-curation of current alcohol specimens in the Collection of Fishes at Texas A&M University and to generate ample space for future growth. A globally unique collection of oversized (10–14ft) shark specimens will be secured through container updates, specifically the replacement of a 40 year old custom-made oak casket with an industry standard air-tight metal unit. Finally, data management platform upgrades will improve basic digital data management and enhance real time availability of specimen records via online international archives, including through iDigBio.org and VertNet.org. Completion of these tasks will rejuvenate infrastructure available for fundamental ichthyological education, unique research, and discovery at Texas A&M University and globally.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.