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Learn the efficient methods and valuable results of surveying a systematic invertebrate paleontology collection for locality data. Discover the benefits of a drawer-by-drawer approach, mapping, and data display techniques. Enhance collection accessibility through cataloging, digitizing, and photographing for future work.
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How (and How Not) to Survey a Systematic Invertebrate Paleontology Collection for Locality Data Paul Mayer Invertebrate Paleontology Collections Manager Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History Department of Geology Collections
B- 2.7
D 1.0
Collection Survey and Map • I Started January, 2008 • Third week asked for statistics on size and volume of collection. • My main goal is to learn what is in the collections.
2000 Paleontological Society Survey White, R. D. and W. D. Allmon. 2000. Guidelines for the Management and Curation of Invertebrate Fossil Collection. The Paleontological Society Special Publication v. 10, p. 3, table 2.
2001 - 2002 Collection Manager Survey 150 cabinets sampled 8 people, April 2001 to October 2002
What is in the collection? • Quick survey of collection • Several hours • Cabinet by cabinet
A more complete survey • 546 cabinets • Drawer by drawer (over 13,000 drawers) • Four to five months • Opportunity to see collections • Curation level • Size • Maps
How to display data? • Lots of data collected (546 pages) • Maps • Displays lots of information • Allows for quick comparisons • Easy to see patterns • Record of the collection
Summary • Benefits of a drawer by drawer survey • Understand collection • See problems and their extent • Snapshot of collection • Easy to generate maps. • Future work: expand accessibility of collection • Cataloging • Digitizing • Photographing