Natural history collections are critically valuable for many areas of research requiring reliable biological occurrence data. There are no other data sources quite so reliable as museum data since specimens are stored indefinitely and can be examined to verify specimen identification. They are becoming more and more relevant as the need for historic data to research climate change and other human impacts on ecosystems grows (Pyke and Ehrlich, 2009). This need is growing while at the same time funding for natural history collections is decreasing, resulting in various problems including lack of storage space, overcrowded storage units, lack of trained staff, and damaged facilities (Denis, 2011) leading to degradation and loss of valuable specimens and their associated data.
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Figure 1. Examples of specimen and data degredation.
Most museums have a specimen backlog, often out of sight and not included with the cataloged collection, representing collection events from the past that have not been curated. These collections are often unsorted, hidden, and housed in worse conditions than the cataloged collection. These sometimes forgotten backlogs represent occurrences that are often unknown to science and recovering them is the only way to add "new" specimen data to the historical record.
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The following series of photos (Figure 3) document the condition of one of the jars included in the Lamar University donation. This jar is almost dry and mold has begun to grow in the jar making the jar label almost entirely indecipherable and disintegrated. The specimen has been degraded to the point that it cannot be handled and must be discarded. Disposing of a specimen is unusual and we typically keep specimens even if in very poor condition. We were able to examine enough of the specimen, while it floated in the jar to have a reasonable level of confidence in the labeled ID of Ammocrypta vivax. The specimen tag remains intact and other critical data can be retrieved:
Ammocrypta vivax; Wolf Creek N.W Dam B: Tyler County, Texas; flowing water, sandy bottom; Legit; Ichthyology Class; Det: L. McGraw; 7-??(prob.23)-92
Thus this jar, which is an extremely poorly preserved example, can be salvaged as a reasonably reliable occurrence record. Although not included as part of the TNHC database, since the specimen voucher no longer exists, this record is now databased as a photo vouchered record (with moderate confidence in the ID) in our Fishes of Texas Project databases and the occurrence can be mapped for use in various research projects.
Figure 3. Example of a data salvage project.
Example 2
This jar (Figure 4) is damaged by mold and desiccated making the jar label extremely fragile and difficult to read. It must be handled with extreme care using forceps and probes to remove it from the jar intact. The specimen has been degraded and dried, but salvageable as a verifiable occurrence record. Specimen can be verified as Ammocrypta vivax. The label can be read with the aid of a dissecting scope. Data are salvaged as:
Ammocrypta vivax; Village Creek at Hwy 96: Hardin County, Texas; Coll: Bechler and Ichthyology class; 14-June 1985
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Figure 4. Example of a data salvage project.
Example 3
The contents of this jar (Figure 5) are damaged by black mold making the label difficult to read. The specimens are salvageable as a verifiable occurrence record. Specimen can be verified as Micropterus salmoides. The label is faded in some areas but can be read with the aid of a dissecting scope. Data are salvaged as:
11 Sept '94; Centrarchidae; Micropterus salmoides; Little Pine Island Bayou at Saratoga; Hardin County, Texas; 2
These specimens are now re-jarred and included in the TNHC and Fishes of Texas databases as TNHC47780.
Figure 5. Example of a data salvage project.
Example 4
The contents of this jar (Figure 6) are in decent condition except for the jar label which has entirely disintegrated forming a white "broth". A back-up label preserved the basic data. Specimen is determined to be Lepomis microlophus not L. humilis as written on label. Data are salvaged as:
24 Feb 1998; Centrarchidae; Lepomis humilis (CORRECTED TO MICROLOPHUS); Texas; Jefferson County; Tram Rd. Exit N. Beaumont Hwy 69 off Stare (POSSIBLY "STORE") Town Rd.; UTM 0384994 E; 3339866 N
This specimen is now included in the TNHC and Fishes of Texas databases as TNHC47779.
Figure 6. Example of a data salvage project.
Example 5
The contents of this jar (Figure 7) include a large white fungal mat which was easily removed. Specimen is in decent condition and can be verified as Cyprinus carpio. The specimen label is easily read. Data are salvaged as:
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This specimen is now re-jarred and included in the TNHC and Fishes of Texas databases as TNHC47778.
Figure 7. Example of a data salvage project.
Literature Cited
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