Small Collections Grant
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Barcoding, digitization, and improvement of fungal collections in the ZGC Herbarium, India
India
Database, Digitally image, Conserve, Other
Cost (USD):
2000
ZGC
The Zamorin's Guruvayurappan College
Objective:
1) Improve processing and packaging of specimens, including developing a protocol for humidity proof, vacuum sealed storage to avoid mold and insect attacks.
2) Tag collections with database linked barcodes, increase collections, and storage space.
3) Prepare high resolution macroscopic and microscopic photographs of the specimens; provide online access to the digital images.
4) Prepare duplicate specimens for sharing with other herbaria.
5) Train students in collection and curation of fungal samples.
Timetable:
The entire project period will be divided into four quarters of three months each. Protocol development and purchase of equipment, other materials for efficient storage of specimens will be completed within the first two quarters (6 months) of the project period. Once an efficient protocol is developed, processing for preservation of the existing and new collections will begin, duplicates will be prepared, and all cataloguing will be completed by the end of the year. Digitization, tagging with barcodes, and data entry of the catalogued specimens on to a webpage dedicated for the Herbarium in the Institution website will commence from the second quarter. Training in fungus specimen handling will be conducted throughout the project period and one student will always be involved with the activities. Dissemination of all newly generated data will be completed in the within the last two quarters of the project period.
Scoring Rubric
Reviewer's name:
Collection Improvement (max. 120 points)
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Facilitating access to the physical collections by digitization (e.g., data entry, setting up database structure with an outline of the platform to be used, purchasing equipment, and imaging specimens) – up to 30 points.
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Enhancing physical collections by improving the conservation status of specimens in the herbarium (e.g., better folders, protecting covers, mounting paper, labeling, etc.) – up to 30 points.
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Curating specimens (e.g., updating families, species identification, identifying types) – up to 20 points.
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Increasing our understanding of the flora or funga by making new herbarium specimens available, such as processing of backlog or collecting and mounting of new specimens from understudied sites – up to 20 points.
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Securing collections by distribution of duplicates (or orphan collections) to other regional or international herbaria or shipping endangered collections to another herbarium – up to 20 points.
This proposal scores:
/120
Methods & Funding (max. 40 points)
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Match between the proposed budget and methods for the aims described – up to 10 points.
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Perceived need, the extent to which the project will benefit from IAPT funding: e.g., due to active floristic work or contribution to poorly collected sites, due to threatened conditions of collections, and for the degree of involvement of others (outreach and education). We give more points for herbaria in low- and middle-income countries – up to 20 points.
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Sharing duplicate specimens with other herbaria – up to 10 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
Broader Impacts (max. 40 points)
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Degree of regional importance of the collection or the taxonomic importance of the targeted collection – up to 10 points.
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The project will yield durable benefits (specimens, digitized metadata, databases, websites) – up to 15 points.
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The project involves outreach/mentoring and broad dissemination – up to 15 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
Plan:
Fungal sporocarps/specimens currently preserved in paper packets will be transferred to fresh packets and then inserted inside polythene bags of appropriate sizes. The polythene bags will then be vacuumed and sealed for making it humidity proof and contamination free. A protocol has to be optimized for efficient and long term vacuumization and air tight sealing by comparing different vacuum sealing combinations. A specimen drying method (dehydration by hot air/refrigeration) suitable for vacuum storage will be selected. This will be followed by pasting barcode tags, digitization of the macroscopic and microscopic details, uploading to the Institution database, and cataloguing. Specimens in protective packets will be stored in new storage cabinets. This will be followed by fresh data entry. Duplicate specimens will be made when possible for broader dissemination/sharing. Students will be trained in handling and processing of the fungal specimens. The project will be of one year duration.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
Barcode tag specimens and link to a database, Change to vacuum storage of specimens to avoid mold and insect attack.
"Other" target:
Arun Kumar T. K.
Applicant Last Name/s: