The complete conversion and digitization of the Field Museum's Bryophyte collection: Working towards a networking hub of bryophyte specimen and taxonomic data

在系统学和进化、生态学和自然保护等科学研究领域，藏品是不可或缺的。在一个为期36个月的项目中，菲尔德博物馆的植物部门将把12万份苔藓标本从储存在床单上转变为封闭的包装，由于它们的脆弱性质；解决了对它们长期保存的迫切关注。苔藓属于一组通常被称为“苔藓植物”的植物，它们对我们理解陆地植物的起源和进化至关重要。苔藓植物是世界各地植被的重要组成部分，具有重要的生态和环境意义。该项目将1)实现整个苔藓采集标本数据的数据化和数字化；2)确保国内和世界各地的用户都能更容易地获得苔藓收藏；3)显著提高藏品管理效率。该项目向工作人员和实习生提供如何管理科学藏品的培训。该项目的数字化部分将增加馆藏的重要性，使它们能够在线提供给全世界的科学界和更广泛的社区，并为国际数据基础项目做出贡献，例如全球生物设施和生命百科全书。该项目还有一个强有力的推广策略，包括通过整合与数字化收藏相关的内容，为《世界植物教育指南》做出贡献，并参与包括300多名芝加哥地区教育工作者在内的教育者开放日活动。

Collections are indispensable to areas of scientific research such as systematics and evolution, ecology, and conservation. In a 36 month project, the Botany Department at The Field Museum will convert the 120,000 moss specimens from storage on sheets to enclosed packets, which due to their delicate nature; addresses the urgent concern over their long-term preservation. Mosses belong to a group of plants commonly termed "bryophytes," which are pivotal in our understanding of the origin and evolution of plants on land. Bryophytes are considered an important component of the vegetation in regions throughout the world and are of great ecological and environmental significance. The project will 1) enable the data basing and digitization of specimen data for the entire moss collection; 2) ensure the moss collection is more accessible for users both nationally and worldwide; and 3) significantly improve efficiency for collections management.This project provides training to staff and interns as to how to curate scientific collections. The digitization component of the project will add to the significance of the collections, making them available online to the scientific and broader community worldwide and contributing to international data basing projects, e.g., Global Biological Facility and the Encyclopedia of Life. The project also has a strong outreach strategy including contributing to Plants of the World Educator Guide by integrating content related to the digitized collection, and participating in the Educator Open House, including over 300 Chicago-area educators.