Natural History Collections: Teaching about Biodiversity Across Time, Space, and Digital Platforms

Abstract

-Natural history collections offer unique physical and virtual opportunities for formal and informal progressive learning. Collections are unique data in that they each represent a biological record at a single place and time that cannot be obtained by any other method. Collections-based experiences lead to an increased understanding of and substantive interaction with the living world. Global biological diversity and changes in that diversity are directly tracked through specimens in collections, regardless of whether changes are ancient or recent. We discuss how collections, specimens, and the data associated with them, can be critical components linking nature and scientific inquiry. Specimens are the basic tools for educating students and interested citizens through direct or virtual contact with the diversity of collections. Such interactions include instruction in a formal classroom setting, volunteering to gather and curate collections, and informal presentations at coffee shops. We emphasize how the recent surge in specimen-based digitization initiatives has resulted in unprecedented access to a wealth of biodiversity information and how this availability vastly expands the reach of natural history collections. The emergence of online databases enables scientists and the public to utilize the specimens and associated data contained in natural history collections to address global, regional, and local issues related to biodiversity in a way that was unachievable a decade ago.

Awareness and use of biodiversity collections by fish biologists

“…For most respondents who use collections data in research, their awareness of the types of data and potential use in research were a result of exposure to collections as part of their college education. Many curators and other collections staff are involved in college teaching and outreach activities that provide excellent opportunities for increasing the awareness of collections as a source of data (Monfils et al ., ). However, given the effect these exposures have, an increase in these activities is likely to have significant benefits (Lacey et al ., ).…”

Longitudinal study of rat volar fat pad fixation and ethanol storage: implications for the use of fluid‐preserved specimens in morphological studies

“…; Monfils et al. ). Successful preservation of soft tissues requires both halting metabolic and autolytic processes, and eliminating microbes that aide decomposition, ideally through means that do not alter the structure or composition of the tissue itself.…”

“…The collections further provide access to rare, endangered or otherwise difficult to obtain species (Suarez & Tsutsui, ; Winker, ; Rainbow, ; Monfils et al. ; Casas‐Marce et al. ).…”

“…Interest in the use of museum-curated collections in morphological study is currently growing, as they provide access to rare, endangered or protected species, and reduce the need to sacrifice or injure additional subjects to examine their morphology (Suarez & Tsutsui, 2004;Winker, 2004;Rainbow, 2009;Casas-Marce et al 2012;Monfils et al 2017). Successful preservation of soft tissues requires both halting metabolic and autolytic processes, and eliminating microbes that aide decomposition, ideally through means that do not alter the structure or composition of the tissue itself.…”

“…The collections are often extensive in sizethe Natural History Museum of London, for example, houses over 70 million specimens alone (Rainbow, 2009)and include type series that are used to demonstrate intraspecies variation and provide a standard reference for taxonomic classification. The collections further provide access to rare, endangered or otherwise difficult to obtain species (Suarez & Tsutsui, 2004;Winker, 2004;Rainbow, 2009;Monfils et al 2017;Casas-Marce et al 2012). Centralization of a large number of species reduces the research costs associated with travel, collection, and private curation (Suarez & Tsutsui, 2004;Rainbow, 2009), so it is perhaps unsurprising to find that, in addition to the taxonomists and biodiversity specialists that traditionally call upon these collections, morphologists are increasingly interested in their sampling potential (Bininda-Emonds & Russell, 1993;Vervust et al 2009;Hughes et al 2016;Gaston et al 2013;Gignac & Kley, 2014;Gignac et al 2016;Hedrick et al 2018;Vickerton et al 2013).…”