Museum collections in ornithology: today's record of avian biodiversity for tomorrow's world

Joseph, Leo

doi:10.1071/muv111n3_ed

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Winker reported relatively sustained levels of collecting from the late 1880s to 1960, after which a rapid decline occurred. An upsurge in collecting since 1980, however, was reported by Joseph (2011), a trend he attributed in part to institutional surveys of less well‐explored avifauna, particularly in South America. Thus, rather than sustained collecting of the better‐represented North American bird fauna, the NMNH appears to have diverted its effort elsewhere at the (probably unintended) expense of maintaining time‐series.…”

Section: Peer‐reviewed Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This decline in collection effort likely has multiple causes (Web‐References), but key factors relate to dwindling funding for the research component of museums (Dalton 2003; Joseph 2011) and a reduction in available taxonomic and curatorial training (Middendorf and Pohlad 2014). In developed nations, such a downturn is undoubtedly influenced by negative community perceptions of the ethics of collecting, as well as perceptions that sampling of the fauna is complete (Remsen 1995).…”

Section: Peer‐reviewed Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, countries with a prominent wildlife hunting culture (eg the US) have not seen the level of downturn apparent in much of Europe (Roselaar 2003). In Australia, where the fauna is less well‐known, current collection levels also appear higher than levels in Europe (Roselaar 2003; Joseph 2011). Thus, community perceptions that ultimately influence policy are complex and heterogeneous, and the extent and nature of future collection practice will necessarily be made on a case‐by‐case basis by the countries involved.…”

Section: Peer‐reviewed Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Are natural history collections coming to an end as time‐series?

Gardner

Amano

Sutherland

et al. 2014

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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Section: Peer‐reviewed Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Peer‐reviewed Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Peer‐reviewed Lettermentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Are natural history collections coming to an end as time‐series?

Gardner

Amano

Sutherland

et al. 2014

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

Self Cite

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“…Collections are also important for educational and cultural reasons (Arinze 1999). They represent biological 'libraries' and their databases provide a robust starting point for scientific studies (Suarez & Tsutsui 2004, Joseph 2011.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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2017

Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club

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“…Subspecific taxa and / or local variation are the drivers of evolution (Schodde and Mason, 1999); only a comprehensive series of specimens from across the geographic range of a species allows an appreciation of variation within the species -an understanding that is essential to the conservation of the diversity contained within that species, and hence its evolutionary potential. In the words of Joseph (2011), collections are 'repositories of the evidence for and results of evolution' (p. i).…”

Section: Taxonomy Recognition Of Biodiversity and Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Value and impacts of collecting vertebrate voucher specimens, with guidelines for ethical collection

Menkhorst

Rylah

Vic

2014

MMV

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Clemann, N., Rowe, K.M.C., Rowe, K.C., Raadik, T., Gomon, M., Menkhorst, P., Sumner, J., Bray, D., Norman, M. and Melville, J. 2014. Value and impacts of collecting vertebrate voucher specimens, with guidelines for ethical collection. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 72: 141-151.Museum collections of preserved faunal specimens are immensely valuable resources for understanding the natural world, and such understanding has a crucial role to play during the current biodiversity extinction crisis. Collections of specimens, and the benefits accrued by collections, are not static; new and fresh specimens, or specimens from uncollected localities or of differing demographics, are always needed. Despite this, resistance to collecting specimens is mounting, as is an erroneous belief that modern techniques (such as molecular analyses) and technologies (such as digital cameras and tracking devices) negate the need to collect specimens. Contemporary technology sometimes facilitates a reduction in the number of voucher specimens that need to be collected, but it does not eliminate the need to collect. Concerns about animal rights have and will continue to play a crucial and desirable role in rectifying unnecessarily poor treatment of fauna, but we believe that judicious collection of specimens is at times a higher priority than preserving the life of every possible individual. We argue that museum collections provide essential verifiable evidence of species' occurrence over time and space, and thus permit rigorous taxonomic, biological and ecological investigations. The value of specimen data for these studies today and for the decades and centuries that follow, justifies the judicious collecting of specimens. Using local examples, we demonstrate the benefits provided by specimens, the need for continued collecting in Victoria, and a framework with which to guide the decision-making process for the collection of vertebrate specimens.

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Museum collections in ornithology: today's record of avian biodiversity for tomorrow's world

Cited by 21 publications

References 50 publications

Are natural history collections coming to an end as time‐series?

Are natural history collections coming to an end as time‐series?

Full Issue

Value and impacts of collecting vertebrate voucher specimens, with guidelines for ethical collection

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