Small Collections Grant
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Strengthening Lich-UPR: the most important lichen collection in the Caribbean
Puerto Rico
Process backlog, Conserve
Cost (USD):
1994
UPR
Botanical Garden Herbarium of the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras
Objective:
The Lichen Collection of the Botanical Garden Herbarium of the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras (Lich-UPR) is the largest and most important lichen collection in the Caribbean but several issues, including the physical condition of currently used packets/boxes, threaten the long-term stability of its specimens. We propose to use the IAPT-SCG funding to acquire the supplies needed for upgrading the materials used for long-term storage of the Lich-UPR specimens and for improving specimen labeling.
Timetable:
Nov.-Dec. 2021: 1) Verify procedure to recruit students at UPR, 2) Organize/prepare the collection for upcoming upgrades, 3) Work on database curation.
Jan.-Mar. 2022: 1) Keep working on collection organization and database curation. 2) Identify and recruit students. 3) Potentially obtain funds and purchase supplies. 4) Begin student training.
Apr.-Jun. 2022: 1) Finalize collection organization, database curation, and student training. 2) Begin packet preparation and other curatorial work.
Jul.-Sept. 2022: 1) Continue packet preparation and other curatorial work.
Oct.-Dec. 2022: 1) Continue packet preparation and other curatorial work.
Jan.-Mar. 2023: 1) Finalize proposed upgrades to the collection.
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:
As a first step, we plan to curate the Lich-UPR database as this is critical for appropriate collection management and label data accuracy. This database is available at the Consortium of Latin America Lichen Herbaria (https://lichenportal.org/chlal). Once database inaccuracies are addressed and supplies acquired with the IAPT-SCG funding are available (refer to budget), specimens will be transferred to packets/boxes made of acid-free, archival-grade paper/cardboard which is the gold standard used in lichen herbaria worldwide. Label data will be pre-printed in packets using the automated label-making tools available at the Consortium. Barcoding options from the Consortium will also be used to improve database and collection management. Additional database and label-making procedures to be implemented are described here: https://help.lichenportal.org/index.php/en/category/tutorials/.
To help with the proposed tasks, one or two undergraduate students from the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras will be recruited and trained. Training, which will focus on lichen collection management (e.g. basic curatorial work, databasing, etc.) will be offered by Dr. Joel Mercado-Diaz. Identification of students and recruitment will be facilitated by Dr. Eugenio Santiago-Valentín, professor and director of the UPR herbarium.
Institution:
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Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Joel Mercado-Diaz
Applicant Last Name/s: