Small Collections Grant
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Digitalization, enhancement, and knowledge expansion of the Chamela field station herbarium
Mexico
Database, Curate specimens, Digitally image, Process backlog
Cost (USD):
3000
EBCH
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Objective:
1) Digitalize specimens to facilitate wider access to this important regional resource.
2) Mount backlog of 4,000+ specimens for incorporation to the herbarium, thereby ensuring that invaluable botanical information is not lost.
3) Improve conservation status of the entire collection by changing folders in bad condition, and updating nomenclature according to the APG system.
4) Provide training and outreach to young Mexican students from rural areas.
Timetable:
On notification of grant approval, we will advertise the opportunity for work experience mounting botanical specimens. We will conduct a local training session on specimen mounting, and aim to hire 2 students for 8 h/day. We expect to have plants mounted in 4-6 months. Myself, and station botanist Dr. Daniel Sanchez Carbajal will supervise the entire process, and will update nomenclature of the collection. Museum technician M. Sc. Enrique Ramírez García, with expertise in scientific digital imagery, will take high-quality digital photographs of new plant species incorporated to the herbarium.
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:
The EBCH herbarium is a specialized reference collection of 2,400 specimens focused on the tropical dry forest flora of western Mexico. Established in 1985 at the Chamela field station within the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, it houses 109 families, 486 genera, and 911 species. It is an essential resource for taxonomy, systematics, plant–animal interactions, and natural history. The station receives over 800 visitors annually and hosts more than 100 projects, including >40-year long-term studies. Researchers from Mexico, the Americas, the USA, Canada, and Europe rely on EBCH for accurate identifications and data on phenology, functional traits, species distributions, and biotic interactions. The region remains a biodiversity hotspot where new species are discovered annually, supported by seamless integration of field, laboratory, and herbarium research.
In 2019, facilities were upgraded with climatized rooms and metal cabinets. Digitalization is underway, with 1,871 specimens imaged. Recently, J. Arturo Solís Magallanes donated 4,000+ identified and labeled specimens, more than doubling the collection, but funds are lacking for mounting and incorporation.
We propose hiring and training local students to mount specimens and upload label data to IBDATA, while updating nomenclature to APG and replacing deteriorated folders. IAPT support would secure this irreplaceable botanical resource, expand digital access, and provide valuable training to rural Mexican students.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Marcelo
Pace
Applicant Last Name/s: