Small Collections Grant
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Cataloging, Restoration, and Imaging of the Vascular Plant Collection at the “Reinaldo Espinosa” Herbarium (LOJA)
Ecuador
Database, Digitally image, Process backlog, Conserve, Other
Cost (USD):
1999
LOJA
Universidad Nacional de Loja
Objective:
• Catalog the collection of the “Reinaldo Espinosa” Herbarium in Loja
• Restore the specimen covers and folders which are in poor condition.
• Mount and digitize at least 2000 new records from the Palanda-Zamora area.
• Train students in cataloging, specimen mounting, collection cleaning and maintenance, and database management of the Herbarium in Loja.
Timetable:
April 2025: Workshop on Herbarium Management
May 2025 to April 2026: Cataloging of the Collection
April 2025 to September 2025: Replacement of Damaged Specimen Sheets and Folders
May 2025 to April 2026: Mounting and digitizing botanical samples from Palanda-Ecuador
August 2025 to December 2025: Scanning and incorporating images into the digital database of TYPE and endemic samples
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
2024
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
Plan:
Complete cataloging of the "Reinaldo Espinosa" Herbarium collection by printing durable labels containing both numbering and a barcode for identification with a reader.
Replacing damaged specimen sheets and folders to ensure long-term conservation and prevent fungal contamination. Adhesive labels with species names will also be printed to properly identify the folders containing the vouchers.
Mounting, labeling, cataloging, and digitizing the collection of 2000 specimens obtained from expeditions to the Palanda-Ecuador area, making it available to students and national and international botanists. This collection will be uploaded to the Symbiota database, which allows for the inclusion of voucher images and the creation of a digital herbarium with comprehensive information about the species.
As an initial stage, images of Type specimens, endemic specimens, and the Reinaldo Espinosa collection will also be obtained and uploaded to the digital herbarium, making them available to the general public. This will create a database that includes both collection information and images of the collected specimens.
Lastly, to achieve these activities, a workshop on herbarium management will be held, involving professors, technicians, and students who will be trained in specimen identification, sample drying, mounting, safety protocols, collection maintenance, cataloging, and proper use of software for collection management.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Zhofre H. Aguirre Mendoza
Applicant Last Name/s: