Computerization of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Mollusk Collection

密歇根大学动物博物馆软体动物收藏的计算机化

• 批准号: 0447142
• 负责人: Diarmaid O'Foighil
• 金额: $ 48.48万
• 依托单位: Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-03-01 至 2010-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0447142&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Computerization; University; Michigan; Museum; Zoology

A grant has been awarded to the University of Michigan, under the direction of Dr. Diarmaid O'Foighil, for partial support of the computerization of the Museum of Zoology Mollusk Collection (UMMZ-MC). This collection is a major national and international resource, serving as an influential research reference to diverse fields including freshwater biology and conservation, invertebrate zoology, medical and veterinary zoology, and paleontology. The present day scientific utilization of the UMMZ-MC is hindered by the absence of an online searchable database. In practical terms, this means that biologists/conservationists interested in UMMZ-MC holdings often have to physically visit the collection for extended periods to access the information they require. The grant will enable UMMZ-MC personnel to enter all of the catalogued lots (approximately 251,000) into an online searchable database. During this process, each lot will be re-housed in an acid-free environment, enumerated, taxonomically-updated and georeferenced. This work will have a transformative effect on the research utility of the UMMZ-MC and will greatly facilitate remote access to the collection's historical biodiversity data.University of Michigan undergraduate students and graduate student curatorial assistants will be centrally involved in this project. These students will receive a thorough grounding in modern museum skills and work practices. They will receive expert training in identifying specimens based on conchological features, in taxonomic practice and nomenclature, and in the management and care of museum collections. They will also be trained in a variety of computer science skills, including data management, database design, SQL server and online database applications, and geographic information systems. Computerization of the UMMZ-MC will return it to the forefront of active research mollusk collections, releasing its enormous store of latent historical biodiversity and biogeographical data to an eager audience of systematists, ecologists and conservation biologists, and spurring significant increases in overall collection activity rates. The online database will also be available to the general public, a growing fraction of whom are increasingly interested in conservation issues and who are gradually becoming aware that the greatest loss in North American animal diversity has involved freshwater mollusks. It will allow the UMMZ-MC to eventually link with sister collections in peer museums, facilitating the transition to online multiple-collection searches as they develop. Finally, this project will also enable the UMMZ-MC to strengthen its prominent role in training graduate and undergraduate students in systematic biology and museum science by incorporating significant levels of practical database and general curatorial skill development.

在 Diarmaid O'Foighil 博士的指导下，密歇根大学获得了一笔赠款，用于部分支持动物学软体动物收藏博物馆 (UMMZ-MC) 的计算机化。该馆藏是重要的国内和国际资源，为淡水生物学和保护、无脊椎动物学、医学和兽医动物学以及古生物学等多个领域提供有影响力的研究参考。由于缺乏在线可搜索数据库，目前 UMMZ-MC 的科学利用受到阻碍。 实际上，这意味着对 UMMZ-MC 馆藏感兴趣的生物学家/环保主义者通常必须长时间亲自参观馆藏才能获取他们所需的信息。这笔赠款将使 UMMZ-MC 人员能够将所有编目批次（约 251,000 个）输入在线可搜索数据库中。 在此过程中，每个批次都将被重新安置在无酸环境中，进行计数、分类更新和地理参考。 这项工作将对 UMMZ-MC 的研究效用产生变革性影响，并将极大地促进远程访问该馆藏的历史生物多样性数据。密歇根大学本科生和研究生策展助理将集中参与该项目。 这些学生将获得现代博物馆技能和工作实践的全面基础。 他们将接受专家培训，包括根据贝类特征识别标本、分类实践和命名以及博物馆藏品的管理和护理。 他们还将接受各种计算机科学技能的培训，包括数据管理、数据库设计、SQL 服务器和在线数据库应用程序以及地理信息系统。 UMMZ-MC 的计算机化将使其重新回到活跃研究软体动物收藏的最前沿，向系统学家、生态学家和保护生物学家的热切受众释放其巨大的潜在历史生物多样性和生物地理数据存储，并刺激总体收藏活动率显着增加。 该在线数据库也将向公众开放，越来越多的公众对保护问题越来越感兴趣，并逐渐意识到北美动物多样性的最大损失涉及淡水软体动物。 它将使 UMMZ-MC 最终能够与同行博物馆的姊妹藏品建立联系，从而随着它们的发展，促进向在线多藏品搜索的过渡。 最后，该项目还将通过结合高水平的实用数据库和一般策展技能发展，使 UMMZ-MC 能够加强其在系统生物学和博物馆科学领域研究生和本科生培训方面的突出作用。