Small Collections Grant
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Digitization of Type and other important specimens of the fungal collection in the Herbarium Luis Fournier Origgi (USJ), University of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica
Digitally image
Cost (USD):
1930
USJ
University of Costa Rica
Objective:
The USJ Herbarium is part of the Centre for Research in Biodiversity and Tropical Ecology (CIBET) at the University of Costa Rica. It currently holds ca. 18,500 specimens of macro/microfungi, lichens and myxomycetes from Costa Rica and Central America. This project aims to perform a curatorship of the type specimens (ca. 200) and other significant specimens (ca. 300) of the fungal collection by completing their databasing, digitization, and meta-data verification. The final goal is to compile the data and images into an online database to increase public access and use of this collection.
Timetable:
The project is planned to be carried out in a 24-month period. Once the digitization of the type and historical specimens is finished, the idea is to use the imaging system to digitize the remaining specimens of the fungal collection (ca. 18.000 specimens).
Months 1 to 4: Search of remaining type specimens in the general collection. Conservation/restoration of the specimens and verification of metadata. Assembly of the digitization station and equipment calibration.
Months 5 to 12: Digitization and metadata capture by students with periodical revisions by the curator of fungi. The goal is to digitize and update ca. 15 specimens per week. For this task, we depend on student assistantship, which is six hours per week, provided by the University. Verification of images by the curator.
Months 13 to 24: Database on Specify, nomenclature, and taxonomic update by the curator. The images and metadata will be made publicly available in a website by CIBET´s IT technician with input of the curator.
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:
Among Central American herbaria, USJ holds the second-largest fungal collection and the most type specimens. It includes significant collections of ectomycorrhizal fungi, wood-decay fungi, and plant-parasitic fungi. It is also the repository of important historical collections (Alexopoulos myxomycetes collection and Vánky rust fungi collection) and specimens of poorly known groups.
During the past two years, we have been cataloguing the type specimens. An exhaustive literature search was done, and the specimens were moved from the general collection to a separate type collection. So far, 146 type specimens have been located, but additional searches are ongoing. The next steps include restoration of the specimens and verification of metadata. The digitization of the collection will depend on the acquisition of equipment that is not currently available in the herbarium. We want to set up an imaging station comprised by a digital camera adapted to a custom-made copy stand with a LED lighting system connected to a computer. The process would begin with the assembly and calibration of the digitization station, and student´s digitization training. Then, digitization and metadata capture would be performed. The curator of fungi would verify image resolution and quality, correct matching of images to corresponding specimen records, and updating of nomenclature and taxonomic information. The images and metadata will be made publicly available in a website by CIBET´s IT technician.
Institution:
IH Code:
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Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Melissa Mardones Hidalgo
Applicant Last Name/s: