[Nhcoll-l] seeking repositories for personal collection data

[Shippee, Jodi]

Thanks Peter. I restricted my query, actually on behalf of colleagues, to specimen data from personal collections because of the audience and my guess that there is much data held privately that isn’t making it into the broader observation databases (not that it couldn’t, as you said).

But indeed we are also looking to sources of non-vouchered observation data such as iNaturalist, e-Butterfly, OdonataCentral, etc., as well as specimens held in museums and shared in GBIF, iDigBio, etc.

One of the questions is whether the existing data repositories either already hold, or would be logical places for, all the data the group is interested in (occurrence data for all invertebrate species in Vermont). We wanted to be sure we were aware of existing repositories before a decision is made whether to create yet another database.

Also, I was looking not only for sources of data to glean (the good news and the bad news is I’ve not learned of any new sources), but also data repositories we may recommend to local collectors as a reliable place to store their data. I received some valuable feedback on the latter (Symbiota and Specify 7 in particular).

In short, thanks for your feedback, Peter, and everyone else.
Jodi

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Peter Rauch
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2015 2:17 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] seeking repositories for personal collection data

Jodi,
There are repositories for biological diversity observations for which physical specimens are not collected (the specimens are "observed" in the field, and information, and perhaps photos, about those observations / specimens is all that is "collected" and preserved).
So, while it might be nice to actually have physical specimens to "vouch" for some of the information associated by the observer with those specimens, it seems that in today's world of urgent need to learn as much as possible about our remaining biota, we are creating places to deposit only data.
Surely, even without the voucher specimens, some folks will find useful records that indicate that such-and-such taxon was "observed" (even if collected too) at a particular locality, date, by so-and-so, etc., etc.

Whether or not those data are very useful for "observations" which do not identify to species the organism to which they refer, is another matter (many collection specimens of invertebrates remain undetermined for long periods of time, so their associated data may not have much value until a specialist studies the physical specimens and a determination is had).
On the other hand, a well-curated private specimen collection with a high proportion of reliably-determined names would likely have specimen-related data of use to others, even without having control over or access to the physical specimens.
Examples ?

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.inaturalist.org_&d=AwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=Kw8GLwAe-LMAEOJRqN1jInQmDx1wUFmfB8J4jUCCFIQ&s=Wgyso_DYwl_fsBKYf_pwrOhYwuMjwse1Er0eS0J27nY&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.inaturalist.org_&d=AwMFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=IyEvf3tWG_0oyKZ-Gcjwime5nd1ki842P72vSxmlAmw&s=YyF0yuHHk7ugF8EQxeNtfvEaYGkbBr5_YsTJkPvk8hA&e=>

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.audubon.org_news_how-2Duse-2Debird&d=AwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=Kw8GLwAe-LMAEOJRqN1jInQmDx1wUFmfB8J4jUCCFIQ&s=iTPH9KZltak4LPRP-1ZLK8gZ3iLpLPDfJ_lxfGcjmi0&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.audubon.org_news_how-2Duse-2Debird&d=AwMFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=IyEvf3tWG_0oyKZ-Gcjwime5nd1ki842P72vSxmlAmw&s=nOTfb9KYpTJXpCd-awUDqNN4l_hv6-2yj3MeoEMvrOU&e=>

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.calflora.org_add_pofaq.html&d=AwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=Kw8GLwAe-LMAEOJRqN1jInQmDx1wUFmfB8J4jUCCFIQ&s=KGRGYVtveQmJ_ki4hkfTGsIDwJoiKV30ZFgEtIcPxVM&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.calflora.org_add_pofaq.html&d=AwMFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=IyEvf3tWG_0oyKZ-Gcjwime5nd1ki842P72vSxmlAmw&s=wwp1UyuWLivEa-vJAUL4IqRqg20BdjOM3Dk5Z8oyA44&e=>
It likely is a question to be answered on a case-by-case basis, because the interests of the physical collection owner / caretaker, as well as the actual character of the data to be made available, weigh so heavily in the conversation.
Peter


On Wed, Dec 9, 2015 at 9:44 AM, <CSTURMJR at pitt.edu<mailto:CSTURMJR at pitt.edu>> wrote:
Jodi,

Not exactly sure about the premise, however, I don't believe that I would
be willing to maintain the data in a personal collection without the
specimens as vouchers. I maintain a small collection of mollusks. Those
which do not involve my research are transfer to the Carnegie Museum;
specimens and data. Those over which I continue to maintain ownership will
be transferred to the Carnegie at some in the future. They will then get
the specimens and all associated data. I would imaging if I wanted to make
the data available now, I would set up a personal webpage and post it
there.


> Please forgive cross-posting.
>
> Does anyone have recommendations for repositories for invertebrate
> specimen data in PERSONAL collections, not an institutional collection?
> Specific to a taxonomic group or general. Thanks for any leads.
>
>
> Jodi Shippee
> Assistant Data Manager
> Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory
> Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
> 1 National Life Drive, Davis 2
> Montpelier, VT 05620-3702
> (802)272-2855<tel:%28802%29272-2855>
>


Regards,
Charlie
.................................................
Charlie Sturm

Treasurer
American Malacological Society

Research Associate - Section of Mollusks
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Associate Professor - Family Medicine
Fellow-American Academy of Family Practice
Fellow-Academy of Wilderness Medicine

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