Collections Improvement for Arachnology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

丹佛自然科学博物馆（DMNS）在Paula E博士的指导下获得了一笔赠款。库欣，无脊椎动物学馆长，以策展，识别和数据库积压的蛛形纲动物标本（蜘蛛，蝎子等）以及稳定和重新整理最近从科罗拉多州立大学（CSU）收集的蛛形纲动物标本。 DMNS的蛛形纲动物收藏建立于1998年，从不到50个小瓶发展到近21，000个小瓶（100 - 300，000个标本），代表947个物种，使该收藏成为落基山脉/大平原地区同类收藏中最大的。 NSF的支持将提供人员支持，以协助对积压标本的物种进行管理和鉴定。 这笔资金还将使转移到DMNS的CSU标本能够立即重新保存和稳定。 DMNS现在是落基山脉/大平原地区蛛形纲动物的主要储存库。 已查明的积压材料中的数据将通过现有的网页和在线数据库，方便广大用户，包括学生、教师、研究人员、土地管理人员和公众查阅。 该项目将对博物馆的能力产生重大影响，以满足广泛而多样化的观众的研究和教育需求，并将加强DMNS的蜘蛛学计划。

A grant has been awarded to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) under the direction of Dr. Paula E. Cushing, Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, to curate, identify, and database backlogged arachnid specimens (spiders, scorpions, etc.) and to stabilize and re-curate recently acquired arachnid specimens from the Colorado State University (CSU) collection. The arachnid collection at the DMNS was established in 1998 and has grown from fewer than 50 vials to nearly 21,000 vials (100 - 300,000 specimens) representing 947 species, making the collection the largest of its kind in the Rocky Mountain / Great Plains region. Support from NSF will provide personnel support to assist in curation and identification to species of backlogged specimens. The funding also will enable the immediate re-curation and stabilization of the CSU specimens transferred to DMNS. The DMNS is now the primary repository for arachnids in the Rocky Mountains / Great Plains region. The data from the identified backlogged material will be made readily accessible to a broad range of users including students, teachers, researchers, land managers and the general public through the currently existing web page and online database. The project will have a major impact on the Museum's ability to serve the research and educational needs of a broad and diverse audience and will strengthen the arachnology program at the DMNS.