Small Collections Grant
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Digitizing Type and Historical Flora from Valparaíso Priority Conservation Sites and Antarctic Lichens (Chile)
Chile
Curate specimens, Digitally image, Process backlog, Ship to another institution, Conserve, Other
Cost (USD):
2980
VALPL
University of Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile
Objective:
To implement a standardized high-resolution digitization system at Herbarium VALPL to enhance remote access and preventive conservation of priority conservation flora, types and Antarctic lichens. The project will install professional imaging and secure IT infrastructure, digitize at least 2,300 prioritized specimens, integrate images into GBIF, conduct conservation and nomenclatural updates, distribute duplicates, collaborate with specialists, train personnel, and strengthen regional capacity through training, publish the protocol open-access, and ensure long-term sustainability.
Timetable:
Months 1-2: Preparation of the collection for digitisation, selection of specimens/families already published in GBIF and priority sites, pre-curing of herbarium folders to be digitised
Months 1-3: Acquisition of equipment, installation of the digitisation system, development of the technical protocol, continued evaluation of the internal management platform (Specify 7 or other), configuration of the workflow to link images with existing records in IPT-GBIF
Months 3-10: Intensive digitisation of specimens (250 specimens/month on average), simultaneous curation and conservation process, nomenclature update, identification of duplicates, contact with specialists for critical taxonomic groups, verification of types and unidentified material
Month 9: Sending duplicates to collaborating herbaria
Month 11: Publication of the methodological protocol in Zenodo
Month 12: Workshop for regional herbaria on best practices in digitisation, publication in GBIF and on the ‘Flora Nativa de Valparaíso’ platform, final report.
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
0
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
No
Plan:
A professional imaging station (≥24 MP camera, macro lens, copy stand, diffuse LED lighting, ColorChecker, scale) will be installed following international best practices (SPNHC, iDigBio). Images will be captured in RAW, archived as uncompressed TIFF masters, and shared as JPEG derivatives (≥300 dpi). File naming and metadata will follow DwC standards to ensure interoperability via the institutional IPT for GBIF publication. A triple-backup system (server, external copy, institutional cloud) will guarantee long-term digital preservation.
Specimens will be prioritized by typification status, priority conservation sites, and scientific value. Antarctic lichens will undergo specialist verification to detect potential type material. Digitization will be integrated with preventive conservation (condition assessment, remounting with acid-free materials, nomenclatural updates using World Flora Online, Index Fungorum, barcode implementation). High-resolution images will enable virtual access, reducing handling of fragile specimens. Duplicates will be distributed to strengthen national networks. The university provides infrastructure and ensures sustainability. Training of three undergraduates and one technician, a regional workshop, and open-access publication of the photographic and metadata protocol (Zenodo, aligned with DiSSCo) will secure capacity building and contribute to global taxonomic accessibility of Southern Hemisphere biodiversity.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
Integrate images into GBIF and on the ‘Flora Nativa de Valparaíso’ platform. Publication of protocol in Zenodo
"Other" target:
Carla
Novoa Sepúlveda
Applicant Last Name/s: