top of page

Small Collections Grant

This page is used to provide assessment scores for each  grant application assigned to you. Please use the rubric below the grant details to enter your assessment scores and any notes you wish to include.
Please note that all scores entered must be whole numbers (no decimals), or you will be unable to save this form.

Database and online publication at Federal University of Goiás Herbarium (UFG), Brazil

mezzonato@ufg.br

Brazil

Database, Digitally image, Conserve

Cost (USD): 

2000

UFG

Federal University of Goiás

Objective:

The UFG Herbarium holds about 70,000 specimens from Brazil’s phytogeographic domains, with emphasis on the Cerrado, which covers most of the state of Goiás. Despite its exceptional biodiversity, the Cerrado is under-sampled, threatened by agricultural expansion and hindered by a limited research infrastructure. Thus, our objective is to preserve specimens and improve collection accessibility to promote scientific progress in Central-West Brazil. The scholarship will fund (1) collection digitization and (2) migration of the specimen database to the JABOT system for unrestricted online access.

Timetable:

This 12-month plan aims to photograph, digitize, and review botanical specimens using high-resolution equipment for thorough documentation and reprocessing as needed. Months 1–3: Train interns in photographic equipment and the JABOT system; migrate preexisting data from BRAHMS to JABOT; digitize and catalog type specimens of cacti, fungi, and algae; continuously process new specimens from UFG projects, donations, and herbarium exchanges. Months 4–6: Digitize and catalog Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, and Sapotaceae (previous families are already in speciesLink). Months 7–9: Digitize and catalog Scrophulariaceae, Simaroubaceae, Siparunaceae, Smilacaceae, Solanaceae, and Turneraceae. Months 10–12: Digitize Ulmaceae and Urticaceae; review, verify, and integrate records into JABOT and speciesLink, correcting any errors or inconsistencies. This initiative will enhance the UFG Herbarium’s accessibility and support species identification. Interns will receive training in plant taxonomy, systematics, collection techniques, and herbarium curation, enhancing the institutional workforce expertise.

Scoring Rubric

Reviewer's name:

Collection Improvement (max. 120 points)

​​

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Curating specimens (e.g., updating families, species identification, identifying types) – up to 20 points.

  • 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.

  • 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)

​

  • Match between the proposed budget and methods for the aims described – up to 10 points.

  • 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.

  • Sharing duplicate specimens with other herbaria – up to 10 points.

This proposal scores:

/40

Broader Impacts (max. 40 points)

​

  • Degree of regional importance of the collection or the taxonomic importance of the targeted collection – up to 10 points.

  • The project will yield durable benefits (specimens, digitized metadata, databases, websites) – up to 15 points.

  • 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 UFG Herbarium has 44,612 digitized specimens available on speciesLink https://specieslink.net/search/). However, integrating this data into JABOT is essential to enhance access to the collection. JABOT is a scientific collection management system used by botanical research institutions. It offers several advantages in terms of collection management, providing curators with various functionalities for monitoring productivity, including action reports. Thus, transferring this data to JABOT is crucial for increasing the UFG Herbarium’s national and international relevance and improving its management. The only technical staff available for this task are the curator and coordinator, who are already engaged in multiple research and administrative activities. If this proposal is approved, we plan to offer nine-month scholarships as incentives for three undergraduate students. The objectives will be achieved by the following activities: 1) Transferring the specimen database - both those not yet available online and those already on speciesLink - to JABOT; 2) Digitizing the entire collection using the open-access JABOT v.3 database management software and publishing it on the online platform (http://jabot.jbrj.gov.br/v3/consulta.php); 3) Improving the conservation of exsiccatae and the organization of the collection; 4) Training undergraduate students in technical and scientific aspects of biological collection management.

Institution:

IH Code:

Country:

Target areas:

Applicant First Name/s:

email:

​

"Other" target:

Ana Carolina Mezzonato Pires

​

Applicant Last Name/s:

bottom of page