Study on the preservation of type specimens in paleontology

根据1986年确定的研究计划，由合作成员及其合作者对日本各机构收集的大量描述性古生物标本进行了如下检查：1.研究的主题仅限于化石和最近（由古生物学家处理）的无脊椎动物（原生动物除外）的类型和插图标本。43个机构（主要是大学和博物馆）澄清了它们的保存状况。在组长办公室汇编了约1 600份描述性论文中处理的有关标本的信息，并使用计算机检索系统输入了每篇论文中出现的标本的作者、标题、期刊、主要分类群、地质时代、保存状态和存放地点。该数据库的建立，使古生物标本的模式标本和图解标本信息的获取变得非常容易.虽然目前许多机构仍在进行标本的编目和数据库工作，但在本研究期间，策展工作已经取得了很大的进展。这项合作研究也非常有效地使许多人认识到保存模式标本的重要性，以及为古生物学和相关科学的进一步发展而进行管理的实用方法。

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.