Small Collections Grant
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Expansion and Strengthening of the HSTM Botanical Collection: Conservation, Digitization and Access
Brazil
Database, Digitally image, Process backlog, Ship, Other
Cost (USD):
2000
HSTM
Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará
Objective:
The HSTM herbarium holds approximately 17,000 specimens from the Pará Amazon, collected from sites along the Tapajós River Basin. This region is rich in biodiversity, but faces threats from mining, agricultural expansion and deforestation. Therefore, the grants will be used to:
Expanding the collection by collecting materials from little-known and remote areas;
Improving the space for storing samples;
Assembling material and exchanging it with other national and international institutions
Expanding the digitization of the collection.
Training students in herbarium curation and management.
Timetable:
Phase 1: Training and Material Acquisition (Months 1-2)
Training the work team to ensure adequate skills for material processing and improvement of collection storage.
Acquisition of infrastructure and equipment for the botanical collection detailed in the budget.
Phase 2: Infrastructure Organization and Backlog Processing (Months 3-5)
Installation of humidity control systems and equipment for herborization and disinfection of samples, ensuring adequate storage conditions.
Processing of at least 2,000 backlog samples awaiting mounting.
Updating the collection catalog to reflect new incorporations and updates.
Phase 3: Collection of Endemic and Rare Species (Months 6-7)
Collection of specimens in unsampled areas.
Training students in botany and collection techniques.
Collection of endemic and rare or endangered local species.
Phase 4: Processing of New Specimens, Digitization, Storage and Dissemination (Months 8-12)
Identification and processing of new collected and unidentified species.
Digitization of at least 2,000 collection samples and updating data in the JABOT and SpeciesLink database repository.
Sending and exchanging duplicates with research institutions around the world.
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 HSTM houses a highly significant collection of specimens from the western region of Pará, specifically the Tapajós River Basin. This region is rich in biodiversity but poorly known concerning its flora. To address this, we will conduct collections in under-sampled areas, focusing on underrepresented groups like Bryophytes.
Although it is a small collection, it faces several challenges in its establishment. The herbarium needs better facilities to incorporate the collected material, including suitable cabinets. With funding, we could acquire equipment and supplies to improve the conservation of exsiccatae, such as drying cabinets and dehumidifiers.
Another challenge is the lack of trained human resources for the mounting, organization, and digitization of the collection, which we can address through investment in formation of young botanists in the study of the region's flora and providing adequate training for the curation and handling of herbaria.
The HSTM collection is the target of loan requests and visits from researchers from various institutions around the world. With the digitization of the collection and the exchange of samples between institutions, we intend to promote universal access to the collection, updating the images available online and making them more accessible to the scientific community and the society.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
Collection of endemic and rare or endangered local species.
"Other" target:
Aline Matos de Souza
Applicant Last Name/s: