Small Collections Grant
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Digitization and expansion of the local reference collection from Herbário de Niterói (NIT)
Brazil
Database, Digitally image, Process backlog, Conserve
Cost (USD):
1976
NIT
Universidade Federal Fluminense
Objective:
1. Capture high resolution images of 5000 specimens and share them online at http://jabot.jbrj.gov.br/ and https://specieslink.net/;
2. Increase the herbarium collection by mounting, including and databasing 500 backlog specimens;
3. Improve specimen storage and processing conditions;
4. Equip collection rooms to safely accommodate incoming specimens donated from Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro.
5. Consolidate NIT as reference collection for threatened Atlantic Rainforest biodiversity by increasing accession of specimens from local preserved areas through field work and donations.
Timetable:
Following an estimate provided by The Arkansas State University (STAR) Herbarium in 2017 for digitization of small herbaria, completely digitizing a collection of about 5000 specimens, with just one person working one quarter of full time, should take a total of 290 hours. Since label data is already typed and uploaded, we can expect to conclude verifications and corrections, imaging and uploading data in 7 months. We estimate backlog specimens to amount to roughly 500 specimens. Processing these will include mounting, labeling and digitization, which should take another 2 months, bringing our project to a total of 9 months.
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:
The Herbarium of Niterói (NIT) is currently under the care of one curator, one assistant curator and six student scholarship holders, all of which are actively engaged in surveying local plant diversity from the megadiverse Atlantic Rainforest. Once the imaging equipment is available, we will photograph all of our specimen sheets, along with a ruler for scale and a color palette for reference. Images will be uploaded and associated with the records available in our open-access digital database (at nit.jbrj.gov.br and https://specieslink.net/). Concomitantly, backlog specimens will be mounted, labeled, photographed and stored - their digital images and label data will also be uploaded to our database.
Apart from the processed backlog specimens, our collection is expected to grow considerably, after incorporating a donation from Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro - the largest botanical garden in South America. The donation aims to diversify and increase NIT’s potential as a reference collection for local atlantic rainforest flora from preserved and threatened areas. However, expansion of our collection is hindered due to severe budget cuts, limiting supplies for specimen preservation and adequate storage space. In order to ensure our current specimens’ safety and properly accommodate newly incorporated materials, we have planned to reorganize our collection rooms, including new cabinets, while optimizing space usage.
Institution:
IH Code:
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Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Adriana Lobão
Applicant Last Name/s: