Improvements in the Curation of the University of Alaska Frozen Tissue Collection

该项目将通过建立永久和更有效的人员结构，进一步将阿拉斯加大学博物馆哺乳动物收藏和阿拉斯加冷冻组织收藏纳入联邦和州监测和清点倡议。该项目将提高这些收藏品的价值和可及性，并进一步将它们确立为区域科学基础设施的重要组成部分。目前，阿拉斯加各地正在进行许多关于野生哺乳动物的实地研究和生存监测项目。虽然UA博物馆利用了几个绝佳的存档机会(例如，埃克森·瓦尔迪兹海洋哺乳动物)，但许多正在进行的项目并没有导致自然历史收藏品的保存。具体地说，该项目将把阿拉斯加冷冻组织收藏经理的半职职位升级为全职经理。博物馆已同意利用国家资金继续担任这一新职位，从而确保对这些重要材料进行长期存档。新职位将通过与阿拉斯加州鱼类和猎物部门、国家海洋渔业局和美国鱼类和野生动植物管理局、国家公园管理局、美国农业部森林管理局、土地管理局和北坡野生动物管理部协调收集组织和骨骼材料的努力，显著扩大阿拉斯加冷冻组织收集工作。额外的人员配置将使现任收集管理员能够(1)监督数据库的核实，(2)将数据库从x-base迁移到结构化查询语言，(3)将数据库移动到其自己的专用服务器，以及(4)汇编和存档相关文件(例如，实地笔记，出版物、报告)。最后，该项目将为这一大型低温收集提供更多的冷冻空间和更安全的备份程序。

This project will further integrate the University of Alaska (UA) Museum Mammal Collection and AlaskaFrozen Tissue Collection into Federal and state monitoring and inventorying initiatives by developing apermanent and more efficient personnel structure. This project will increase the value and accessibility of these collections and further establish them as important components of the regional scientific infrastructure. Presently there are many field studies and subsistence-monitoring projects on wild mammals underway throughout Alaska. While the UA Museum has capitalized on several excellent opportunities to archive (e.g.), Exxon Valdez marine mammals), a substantial number of ongoing projects do not result in the preservation of material in natural history collections.Specifically, the project will upgrade a half-time position to full-time status as Manager of the Alaska Frozen Tissue Collection. The Museum has agreed to continue the new position with state funds and thus ensure a long-term effort to archive these important materials. The new position will expand the Alaska Frozen Tissue Collection significantly by coordinating efforts to collect tissues and skeletal material with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and North Slope Borough Division of Wildlife Management.Additional staffing will allow the current Collection Manager to (1) oversee the verification the database, (2) migrate the database from x-base to Structured Query Language, (3) move the database onto its own dedicated server, and (4) assemble and archive related documentation (e.g., field notes, publications, reports). Finally, this project will provide additional freezer space and more secure back-up procedures for this large cryogenic collection.