[Nhcoll-l] [HERBARIA] displaying plants

Thu Jan 12 14:04:37 EST 2017

Rob and all,
Thanks for all of those details and articles.  We need to compile more of these facts so we can use them as part of our modus operandi.  It is useful to point to standards when pushed by exhibit designers to pull specimens for display.  It will be nice to get feedback from exhibit designers once they develop interesting alternatives.

BTW, we looked at the display cases windows.  It looks like the area where the specimens were displayed did not get direct sunlight, but bright reflected light from a white concrete walkway.  The cases are within a climate controlled area, but I would suppose they heat up due to the bright light exposure.

There is another cautionary tale related to those display cases.  A prism hanging in a window that got a little bit of direct sun focused a beam of light on a wall and started burning it.

Kent

From: rw at protectheritage.com [mailto:rw at protectheritage.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2017 1:40 PM
To: Perkins,Kent D <kperkins at flmnh.ufl.edu>; 'Debra Trock' <dtrock at calacademy.org>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu; herbaria at NACSE.ORG
Subject: RE: [Nhcoll-l] [HERBARIA] displaying plants

Hi all,
In my experience, although overheating can cause chlorophyll colour loss, we need look no further than light exposure to fully explain the changes Kent has so nicely documented. In recent controlled light exposure experiments Druzik and colleagues at the Getty Conservation Institute found the light sensitivity of chlorophyll containing leaves to be in the range of Blue Wool 1.5 to 3 (Beltran, Vincent L.; Druzik, James; and Maekawa, Shin. 2012. Large-scale assessment of light-induced color change in air and anoxic environments. Studies in Conservation 57(1): 42-57). This roughly corresponds to expecting a full fade after exposures ranging from weeks to months in moderately bright exhibits. In full sunlight (think of lawn mower grass clippings) the transition from green to brown occurs within a few days. Ultraviolet content of the light makes little difference to the fading rate of such highly fugitive colours. Indeed, for chlorophyll, the absorption spectrum (see, e.g., https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__biology4alevel.blogspot.ca_2015_08_101-2Dphotosynthetic-2Dpigments.html&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=12hP23tLFDmTd9yKW1crsdiN9fuhnux6NUhp4CB1XGI&e= ) is likely the same as the damage spectrum and UV may play no part at all in fading. Tse, Season; Cipera, Luci; and Leckie, Carolyn 2011. Microfade testing to support exhibit decisions: the Catharine Parr Traill scrapbooks. Collection forum 25(1): 92-106 https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org_media_assets_cofo-2D25.pdf&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=zQ3dZNvmOi-laWb-xCVm3PLT5kSoZm_K_nSoogezMyc&e=  provide a sense of the diversity of light sensitivities in a variety of materials within bound herbaria and provide sensible advice to guide exhibition decisions. See Michalski: “Agent of Deterioration: Light, Ultraviolet and Infrared” https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__canada.pch.gc.ca_eng_1444925073140&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=C3wQECXyjYNvqB89oVVxcERj9Vek9Tu_Cwt0AQPhb40&e=  for good explanations of these issues and visit the CCI light damage calculator https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__canada.pch.gc.ca_eng_1450464034106&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=CauZyZ3L7NW9l-Lr4Sg6uL97fK6KBh2JXihBDOkx2Hk&e=  to explore fading rates for different light sensitivities under different lighting conditions.

In summary:
·         Focus on visible light intensity and duration as the dominant factor controlling rate of discolouration of (especially green) plant materials.
·         Accept that exhibiting plant materials even under low light and anoxic conditions is largely destructive of chlorophyll and other colourants – if possible, exhibit only expendable, or previously faded, specimens.

Best,
Rob

Robert Waller, PhD, CAPC, FIIC
President and Senior Risk Analyst
Protect Heritage Corp.
622 Simoneau Way
Ottawa  ON  K4A 1P4
email: rw at protectheritage.com<mailto:rw at protectheritage.com>
internet: www.protectheritage.com<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.protectheritage.com_&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=oiW2Z7mwokHeX14W2aSUdmqQCuN6RMs95kBg3xfhBd4&e= >
phone: 613-883-2707 (Canada)
phone: 303-872-9739 (USA)
skype: rrwaller
and, Research Associate, Canadian Museum of Nature
and, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Queen’s University

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Perkins,Kent D
Sent: January 11, 2017 4:35 PM
To: Debra Trock <dtrock at calacademy.org<mailto:dtrock at calacademy.org>>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>; herbaria at NACSE.ORG<mailto:herbaria at NACSE.ORG>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] [HERBARIA] displaying plants

Hi Deb,

We have been working on an exhibit for the FLMNH 100th Anniversary (the herbarium is actually older ☺).

We learned from an earlier experience that light is certainly an agent of deterioration!  We placed some duplicate specimens in a display case for public viewing which faces a covered walkway from October to mid-Feb.  The window "supposedly" has UV protection but I believe it does get some strong direct sun. There is probably little or no climate control.

Here is a comparison of the specimens before and after:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_herbarium_specimens_zoom_imagezoom-5Fhtml5.asp-3Ffolder-3D240-26image-3D240186a1-23ImageTop&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=5jnsr72y6ySzNuZtVHorA1LTnBkk92gaBcbsp9lrAp0&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_herbarium_specimens_zoom_imagezoom-5Fhtml5.asp-3Ffolder-3D240-26image-3D240186a1-23ImageTop&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=4LKKxDBKanOjL6SIs4Q-Qj_OfdjSYVJqNc4XW6pwiNc&s=k7G_niaxHblXVgH2YBNTjfaTCkyb26mMkxgsULKx37M&e=>
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_herbarium_specimens_zoom_imagezoom-5Fhtml5.asp-3Ffolder-3D240-26image-3D240186a2-23ImageTop&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=4d1wJB_2MYPNCmEdRnOxvTqCOZooqBYCAyR-M8lV-VM&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_herbarium_specimens_zoom_imagezoom-5Fhtml5.asp-3Ffolder-3D240-26image-3D240186a2-23ImageTop&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=4LKKxDBKanOjL6SIs4Q-Qj_OfdjSYVJqNc4XW6pwiNc&s=IgV6jY57Eq15yEmKIia89H16K--SN4BRtaEFJQPMcSQ&e=>

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_herbarium_specimens_zoom_imagezoom-5Fhtml5.asp-3Ffolder-3D240-26image-3D240162a1-23ImageTop&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=ybxXMR606GAmirkVINFyfQW_EVtLoR-8OJQvxMBjx7c&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_herbarium_specimens_zoom_imagezoom-5Fhtml5.asp-3Ffolder-3D240-26image-3D240162a1-23ImageTop&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=4LKKxDBKanOjL6SIs4Q-Qj_OfdjSYVJqNc4XW6pwiNc&s=WG9HtSBVL1aNCu_WdFVf2A3lRQtywGFYbh7b189ExAY&e=>
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_herbarium_specimens_zoom_imagezoom-5Fhtml5.asp-3Ffolder-3D240-26image-3D240162a2-23ImageTop&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=-hKeep0OXAeFr_DeuTlK_ZVwdikxJcqT8MQh8wdFuiA&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_herbarium_specimens_zoom_imagezoom-5Fhtml5.asp-3Ffolder-3D240-26image-3D240162a2-23ImageTop&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=4LKKxDBKanOjL6SIs4Q-Qj_OfdjSYVJqNc4XW6pwiNc&s=A_6YQT_7Rnc6L3ssiiO4mFKOSWsjfBPhfA02VrxNNok&e=>

The specimens in our new exhibit will definitely be sheltered from light.  But, to be safe we are not using any accessioned material.  We are creating “surrogate” specimens or high quality photographs.  In fact, I think the public would be just as pleased with the photos of the specimens as they are with the real thing.

There was an inquiry on this subject some while ago, I think on NHCOLL.  Tim Dickinson (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.eeb.utoronto.ca_people_d-2Dfaculty_Dickinson.htm&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=g0XCmb1UTEWY2_T0SW1diWtskckAJVGC6Fu3Zg1FI7Y&e= ) responded with the following:
----
“The experience of the ROM Green Plant Herbarium is similar to that of others who have replied to this enquiry: herbarium specimens placed on display fade. In our experience, rotating the contents of display cases is usually impractical, and doing so would take away time from more pressing activities. Where they can be mounted a few feet away from a museum visitor, color scans of specimens are almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

My colleague, Deb Metsger, describes how she and her co-workers dealt with this issue in part of a report she made on the ROM's " Life in Crisis: The Schad Gallery of Biodiversity" that opened in 2009. This report was published in the Bulletin of the Canadian Botanical Association, and is available online at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cba-2Dabc.ca_Bulletin-5F43-5F3.pdf&d=CwIGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=T-8xlXasJk-3UGSQ30LtzpiV4HeGhkdJT9zQMpgkJu0&s=DHEl8mPlpOV9zEOksPyiPDQ4uSrQiqEls6wN7U0T5X0&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cba-2Dabc.ca_Bulletin-5F43-5F3.pdf&d=CwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=4LKKxDBKanOjL6SIs4Q-Qj_OfdjSYVJqNc4XW6pwiNc&s=xeDcmvLrrYhTY7Z03inQq1od1GXlICcakSnzr0jOCdg&e=> (p. 12 of the .pdf file, page 60 of the Bulletin). The report describes how the gallery team used scans of herbarium specimens, real plants, and models to convey the diversity of plants to museum visitors, not as backdrops to animal displays, but rather as vital components of diverse ecosystems. It may be of interest to others confronted with similar challenges
---TAD.”
We’ve found that publication to have a lot of helpful hints.
Best wishes,
Kent
---------------------------
Kent D. Perkins, Manager of the Collection
University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS)
Florida Museum of Natural History
379 Dickinson Hall
PO Box 110575
Gainesville, FL  32611-0575
Ph. 352-273-1990
---------------------------
From: HERBARIA [mailto:herbaria-bounces at NACSE.ORG] On Behalf Of Debra Trock
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2017 12:46 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>; herbaria at NACSE.ORG<mailto:herbaria at NACSE.ORG>
Subject: [HERBARIA] displaying plants

Does anyone have experience with different ways of preserving/presenting plants for exhibitions?  We are planning an exhibit of California coastal life and a portion of that exhibit will be devoted to plants and algae.  Our exhibits team is asking for advice on interesting ways (besides herbarium sheets, fake plants, or living plants) to preserve plants for exhibition.

I have no experience in this realm, so am open to any ideas or suggestions.

Deb

Dr. Debra Trock
Director of Science Collections
Senior Collections Manager, Botany
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
dtrock at calacadmy.org<mailto:dtrock at calacadmy.org>
PH:  415-379-5363
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20170112/0517be45/attachment.html 