Museomics Provides Insights into Conservation and Education: The Instance of an African Lion Specimen from the Museum of Zoology “Pietro Doderlein”

Abstract

Innovative technological approaches are crucial to enhance naturalistic museum collections and develop information repositories of relevant interest to science, such as threatened animal taxa. In this context, museomics is an emerging discipline that provides a novel approach to the enhancement and exploitation of these collections. In the present study, the discovery of a neglected lion skeleton in the Museum of Zoology “Pietro Doderlein” of the University of Palermo (Italy) offered the opportunity to undertake a multidisciplinary project. The aims of the study consisted of the following: (i) adding useful information for museographic strategies, (ii) obtaining a new genetic data repository from a vulnerable species, (iii) strengthening public awareness of wildlife conservation, and (iv) sharing new learning material. The remains of the lion were examined with a preliminary osteological survey, then they were restored by means of 3D printing of missing skeletal fragments. Phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b sequence clearly indicate that the specimen belongs to the Central Africa mitochondrial clade. At the end of the study, the complete and restored skeleton was exhibited, along with all of the information and data available from this project. This study shows a useful approach for the restoration and enhancement of a museum specimen, with important opportunities for preserving biodiversity and driving specific conservation policies, but also for providing Life Science learning material.

From Caves to the Savannah, the Mitogenome History of Modern Lions (Panthera leo) and Their Ancestors

“…Values below 2% are indicative of a within-species status [19]; therefore, as far as the cytb is concerned, we can consider these either as sister species or P. atrox as a subspecies of P. spelaea. Moreover, Panthera leo clustered into six main haplogroups as previously postulated [20][21][22]. These two main subclades follow a geographic distribution pattern and have nucleotide diversity values (0.80-1.12) compatible with the existence of two lion subspecies, P.l.…”

“…The tree was rooted using Panthera pardus (KP001507), Panthera onca (NC022842), and two Panthera tigris (NC010642, AF053054). Given the publication of at least seven different mtDNA haplogroups nomenclatures from the literature [3,13,[20][21][22][41][42][43] and two for cave lions [8,9], we tried to standardise the nomenclatures and A to F were chosen for P. leo, S for P. spelaea, and X for P. atrox. All haplogroups (including a conversion table from other works) can be found in Table S3.…”

The Revision of the Crustacea Collection of the Museum of Zoology “P. Doderlein” under the Framework of the National Biodiversity Future Center

“…Museum specimens can provide a spatiotemporal window of biodiversity changes. Further, despite the degradation processes of genetic Material through time [21], in recent years methodological advances have allowed to obtain precious genetic inferences from degraded samples, such as the ones from museums and archives. However, despite their huge potentiality, natural collections remain largely untapped, especially because until now no agreement on lists was available, and an easy to consult, open-access database containing the list of all the specimens from Italian museums is still lacking.…”

“…Previous studies have revised some of the collections and published catalogues such as those regarding fishes [15], cetaceans [16], mammals [17], raptors [18] and the anatomical collection [19]. Recently, the museum has been re-evaluated thanks to the works of many researchers who have obtained interesting results, such as the revision of a specimen of Cerna sicana (Doderlein, 1882) [20] and the assignment of its geographical origin to an old lion skeleton [21]. All such activities have potential repercussions on conservation and education matters and on the dissemination of topics related to biodiversity.…”

Algas (Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta E Ochrophyta) Catalogadas Em Contexto De Museu No Norte De Portugal

“…Este tipo de museus fornece material para conhecimento e formação taxonómica, dados e suporte para diversos artigos, material biológico que pode ser utilizado para rastrear alterações na biodiversidade, contribuir para a saúde e segurança públicas, fornecendo conhecimentos para o estudo de agentes patogénicos, vetores de doenças e contaminantes ambientais. (Cilli et al 2023;Suarez & Tsutsui 2004) e sensibilizar a população para a preservação da fauna e da flora (Cilli et al 2023;Costa et al 2021).…”