CSBR: Natural History Collections of Austin Peay State University: Information and Infrastructure Improvements of the Herbarium and Vertebrate Collections

奥斯汀佩伊州立大学(APSU)自然历史收藏(NHC)包括来自美国中南部地区的100,000多份动植物标本。这些收藏对教师和学生的研究至关重要，是200多份出版物、论文和学位论文的基础。NHC用于公共宣传，并用作支持APSU生物课程的教学材料。APSU的学生，包括军人(28%)、女性(50%)、低收入、第一次上大学的学生和少数族裔学生，传统上在理科方面代表性较低，通过利用NHC的课程和基于收藏的研究接受培训。由于最近NHC的急剧增长和有毒熏蒸剂的停止使用，收藏品受到过度拥挤、火灾和昆虫的破坏。该奖项将通过购买增加空间和防止标本损坏的存储系统来确保收藏品的安全。此外，资金将用于改善标本数据的电子存储，并通过一个合并和改进的NHC网站提高可访问性，该网站提供对标本记录、图像和其他相关自然历史信息的在线访问。奥斯汀北京大学(APSU)自然历史收藏(NHC)包括中南部最大的爬行动物收藏、快速增长的鱼类收藏和第二大区域标本馆。APSU NHC的使命是作为中南部地区的主要标本库，领导描述地区生物多样性的努力，并通过卓越的导师、研究和公共宣传培养新一代学生。虽然NHC对当地的教育和研究做出了重大贡献，但更广泛的科学界的使用一直受到限制。由于最近的急剧增长，NHC受到存储不足、活跃的虫害以及未来潜在的火灾、水和地震破坏的物理损害的威胁。项目目标是：(1)通过安装压实机搁置系统和实施无毒虫害管理来保护现有收藏品；(2)通过开发单一的特定数据库来提高实用性；(3)通过开发和加强在线界面以及与iDigBio和其他数据共享门户网站合作来提高可获取性。这些行动将促进NHC的使命，并将目前未得到充分利用但具有区域意义的藏品转化为可广泛获取的资源，这些资源将支持与生物多样性最高的美国地区之一有关的教育和研究。有关APSU植物标本馆的更多信息可在www.apsu.edu/herbarium/数据库上获得；作为该奖项支持的活动的一部分，将为脊椎动物收藏开发类似的销售点。

The Austin Peay State University (APSU) Natural History Collections (NHC) include over 100,000 specimens of plants and animals from the Mid-south region of the U.S. These collections are vital to faculty and student research, serving as the foundation for over 200 publications, theses, and dissertations. The NHC are used in public outreach and as instructional materials supporting APSU biology courses. APSU students traditionally underrepresented in science including, military (28%), women (50%), low-income, first-time college, and minority students, receive training through courses utilizing the NHC and through collections-based research. Due to recent, drastic growth in the NHC and the discontinued use of toxic fumigants, collections are threatened by damage from overcrowding, fire, and insects. This award will secure the collections through acquisition of storage systems that increases space and prevents specimen damage. Additionally, funds will be used to improve electronic storage of specimen data and to increase accessibility through a consolidated and improved NHC website that provides online access to specimen records, images, and other associated natural history information.The Austin Peay State University (APSU) Natural History Collections (NHC) include the Mid-south's largest herpetological collection, a rapidly growing fish collection, and the second largest regional herbarium. APSU NHC's mission is to serve as the primary specimen repository for the Mid-south, to lead efforts to describe regional biodiversity, and to train new generations of students through excellence in mentorship, research, and public outreach. While the NHC have contributed significantly to education and research locally, use by the broader scientific community has been limited. Due to recent drastic growth, the NHC are threatened by physical damage from insufficient storage, active insect infestations, and potential future fire, water, and earthquake damage. Project goals are to (1) secure existing collections through installation of compactor shelving systems and implementation of non-toxic pest management, (2) increase utility through development of a single Specify database, and (3) increase accessibility via development and enhancement of online interfaces and collaboration with iDigBio and other data-sharing portals. These actions will promote the NHC's mission and convert currently under-utilized but regionally significant collections into broadly accessible resources that will support education and research related to of one of the most biodiverse areas of the US. More information about the APSU herbarium is available at www.apsu.edu/herbarium/databases; similar outlets will be developed for the vertebrate collections as part of the activities supported by this award.