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Over 300 million arthropod specimens are housed in North American natural history collections. These collections represent a “vast hidden treasure trove” of biodiversity −95% of the specimen label data have yet to be transcribed for research, and less than 2% of the specimens have been imaged. Specimen labels contain crucial information to determine species distributions over time and are essential for understanding patterns of ecology and evolution, which will help assess the growing biodiversity crisis driven by global change impacts. Specimen images offer indispensable insight and data for analyses of traits, and ecological and phylogenetic patterns of biodiversity. Here, we review North American arthropod collections using two key metrics, specimen holdings and digitization efforts, to assess the potential for collections to provide needed biodiversity data. We include data from 223 arthropod collections in North America, with an emphasis on the United States. Our specific findings are as follows: (1) The majority of North American natural history collections (88%) and specimens (89%) are located in the United States. Canada has comparable holdings to the United States relative to its estimated biodiversity. Mexico has made the furthest progress in terms of digitization, but its specimen holdings should be increased to reflect the estimated higher Mexican arthropod diversity. The proportion of North American collections that has been digitized, and the number of digital records available per species, are both much lower for arthropods when compared to chordates and plants. (2) The National Science Foundation’s decade-long ADBC program (Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections) has been transformational in promoting arthropod digitization. However, even if this program became permanent, at current rates, by the year 2050 only 38% of the existing arthropod specimens would be digitized, and less than 1% would have associated digital images. (3) The number of specimens in collections has increased by approximately 1% per year over the past 30 years. We propose that this rate of increase is insufficient to provide enough data to address biodiversity research needs, and that arthropod collections should aim to triple their rate of new specimen acquisition. (4) The collections we surveyed in the United States vary broadly in a number of indicators. Collectively, there is depth and breadth, with smaller collections providing regional depth and larger collections providing greater global coverage. (5) Increased coordination across museums is needed for digitization efforts to target taxa for research and conservation goals and address long-term data needs. Two key recommendations emerge: collections should significantly increase both their specimen holdings and their digitization efforts to empower continental and global biodiversity data pipelines, and stimulate downstream research.
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This content will become publicly available on October 31, 2026
Rapid development and digitization of the Recent mollusk collection at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville
The Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH) currently houses nearly 580,000 specimen-lots of close to 3 million specimens of recent mollusks. It is one of the largest collections of its type in North America and, except for new donations, its collection data is entirely accessible online. The collection has grown rapidly since its founding in the early 20th century, especially in the past 50 years. While global in scope, the collection is especially strong in material from North and South America, the Caribbean, Madagascar, Pacific Ocean islands, and south Asia. Holdings have been greatly enriched by biodiversity surveys conducted by museum staff and research associates and by acquisition of relinquished institutional and private collections. Field collections often have linked voucher specimens, tissues, sequence data, and digital images. The FLMNH mollusk collection is an important resource for systematics, biogeography, biodiversity studies, and education.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2001515
- PAR ID:
- 10648753
- Publisher / Repository:
- Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Nautilus
- Volume:
- 139
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 0028-1344
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 279-296
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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