Difference between revisions of "Importance of Collections"
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==Contributors== | ==Contributors== | ||
| − | + | Major Editor: [[User:BredaZimkus|Breda Zimkus]]. Some information was first included as an Appendix to the SPNHC Threatened Collections Toolkit (now available on the [[Threatened and Orphaned Collections]] page, created by the SPNHC Sessional Committee on Threatened Collections. | |
==Why natural history collections are important== | ==Why natural history collections are important== | ||
| − | # | + | # Lack of resources will most probably prevent recollecting of specimens that have been amassed over 100+ years. |
# Legislation prohibiting private collection and restricting scientific collecting means that some types of specimens are not easily collected or likely to be donated by private owners. | # Legislation prohibiting private collection and restricting scientific collecting means that some types of specimens are not easily collected or likely to be donated by private owners. | ||
# Some specimens are irreplaceable as they may be the primary source of information of extirpated, protected and rare species, or specimens from destroyed habitats or politically inaccessible regions (Williams and Cato 1995)<ref>Williams, S. L. and Cato, P. S. 1995. Interaction of research, management, and conservation for serving the long-term interests of natural history collections. Collection Forum 11(1) 16-27.</ref>. | # Some specimens are irreplaceable as they may be the primary source of information of extirpated, protected and rare species, or specimens from destroyed habitats or politically inaccessible regions (Williams and Cato 1995)<ref>Williams, S. L. and Cato, P. S. 1995. Interaction of research, management, and conservation for serving the long-term interests of natural history collections. Collection Forum 11(1) 16-27.</ref>. | ||
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# There are countless examples of “new” specimens being “discovered” in collections and recognized as scientifically important long after their original acquisition. | # There are countless examples of “new” specimens being “discovered” in collections and recognized as scientifically important long after their original acquisition. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Desired BP Content]] [[Category:Collection Management]] | [[Category:Desired BP Content]] [[Category:Collection Management]] | ||
Revision as of 21:49, 29 March 2017
Contents
Statement of Purpose
The aim of this page is to
Contributors
Major Editor: Breda Zimkus. Some information was first included as an Appendix to the SPNHC Threatened Collections Toolkit (now available on the Threatened and Orphaned Collections page, created by the SPNHC Sessional Committee on Threatened Collections.
Why natural history collections are important
- Lack of resources will most probably prevent recollecting of specimens that have been amassed over 100+ years.
- Legislation prohibiting private collection and restricting scientific collecting means that some types of specimens are not easily collected or likely to be donated by private owners.
- Some specimens are irreplaceable as they may be the primary source of information of extirpated, protected and rare species, or specimens from destroyed habitats or politically inaccessible regions (Williams and Cato 1995)[1].
- Most collections contain material that is historically important (e.g. for the history of an institution, history of natural history research), the value of this material lying in the association of the specimens within the collection and with the institution’s history. When collections are orphaned, disposal often results in the break-up and dispersal of the collection and the loss of historical associations and relevance.
- Collections act as a reference for research. Published material is cited as residing at a particular institution. When the material moves to a new institution, it becomes more difficult to track down, and research is hindered. Faunas that would normally be available for study as one entity, may be dispersed to several institutions. Recommendation: create a central place for reporting and recording movement of collections.
- Private collections, the scientific value of which may be unknown, often are auctioned or offered for sale. In these cases the collection is usually purchased piecemeal by interested parties and it may be difficult to track down these dispersed parts in the future.
- There are countless examples of “new” specimens being “discovered” in collections and recognized as scientifically important long after their original acquisition.
References
- ↑ Williams, S. L. and Cato, P. S. 1995. Interaction of research, management, and conservation for serving the long-term interests of natural history collections. Collection Forum 11(1) 16-27.
