Study on the preservation of type specimens in paleontology

根据1986年确定的研究计划，合作成员及其合作者对日本各机构收集的大量古生物标本进行了检查，内容如下：1.研究对象限于化石和近代(古生物学家处理的)无脊椎动物(原生动物除外)的图解标本。43个机构(主要是大学和博物馆)明确了它们的保存地位。在组长办公室汇编了大约1600篇描述性论文中处理的有关标本的信息，并利用计算机检索系统输入每篇论文中出现的标本的作者、标题、期刊、主要分类单元、地质年代、保存状态和保存库。因此，完整的数据库使得获取各种古生物学目的的模式和图解标本的信息变得非常容易。尽管许多机构目前仍在为各自的标本编目和建立数据库，但在本研究期间，馆藏工作已经取得了很大进展。这项合作研究也非常有效地让这么多人认识到保存模式标本的重要性，也为古生物学和相关科学的进一步发展提供了实用的管理方法。

In accordance with the research plan determined in 1986, the enormous collections of described paleontologic specimens in various institutions of Japan were examined by cooprative members and their cooperators as follows:1. The subject of research was limited to fossil and recent (treated by paleontologists) type and illustrated specimens of invertebrates (except Protozoa). Their preservation status was clarified in 43 institutions (mostly universities and museums).2. Information about the relevant specimens treated in about 1,600 descriptive papers was compiled at the office of the team leader, and the author, title, periodical, major taxon, geologic age, preservation state and depository of specimens appeared in each paper were inputted using a computer retrieval system. As the result, the completed data base make it very easy to get information about type and illustrated specimens for various paleontologic purposes.3. Although catalogueing and data base for respective specimens are still now in progress in many institutions, the curatorial works have been greatly advenced during the period of this study. This cooperative study was also very effective in bringing home to so many prople the importance of the preservation of type specimens and also the practical methods of curation for the further development of paleontology and related sciences.