Smithsonian Institution collections

[Daniel Janzen]

Science 293 (5534): 1433, 24 August 2001

A Smithsonian Jewel: Biological Collections

  One of the "jewels in the crown" of the Smithsonian Institution--the
national biological collections and their associated systematics research
programs--is overlooked in the News Focus article about Smithsonian science
("Turmoil behind the exhibits" by E. Pennisi, 13 Jul., p. 194). At a time
when the demands for biodiversity information are greater than ever (1),
the Smithsonian is one of the primary sources of such information, data,
and knowledge.

  The biological collections include 83 million biological specimens
(complemented by 40 million fossils, plus smaller living collections),
forming one of the two greatest collections of biodiversity in the world.
Seventy Smithsonian research systematists work with these collections,
along with 40 systematists in associated federal agencies and more than 50
research associates. This represents a unique federal partnership, begun in
1881, in which the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, and
Interior co-locate their systematics researchers and identification
services with the Smithsonian. These federal partners contribute $6.5
million annually toward our overall programs, which represents a massive
cost-share for the Smithsonian.

  Over the last 10 years, the manner in which systematics products and
identification services are paid for and distributed has changed
dramatically (2). Many of the world's museums have been forced by financial
problems to increasingly focus on provincial issues of greatest interest to
the people who "pay the bills" (3). Meanwhile, world productivity in
systematics research appears to be declining (4). Thus, the Smithsonian and
its federal partners are becoming more and more important to provide the
infrastructure to support systematics and identification services.
Collectively, our biologists hosted over 900 scientific visitors for more
than 10,000 visitor days, made 1433 outgoing loans totaling 166,695
specimens for research, and made more than 50,000 identifications in 2000.
Over half the articles in major U.S. journals in systematic botany cite the
use of Smithsonian specimens (5) and although there are 34 insect
collections in North America with more than 1 million specimens, some 20%
of the insect specimens loaned for research by North American museums come
from the Smithsonian (6). Our role in graduate education is highlighted by
hosting eight National Science Foundation Partnerships in Enhancing
Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET) grants in collaboration with several universities.

  We continue to add specimens at almost half a million annually (7), and
external systematists are constantly upgrading the information content of
our collections. We have begun increasing accessibility of our data by
digitizing some 3.7 million records, representing 9% of the collection (8).
Collections of specimens represent a vital information base for protecting
the world's environment for future generations, and we are committed to put
in place the infrastructure needed to efficiently manage and disseminate
appropriate data, while maintaining the collections into perpetuity.


                                       Scott E. Miller

                                     Acting Chairman,

                        Department of Systematic Biology,

                      National Museum of Natural History,

                                 Smithsonian Institution,

                     Washington, DC 20560-0105, USA.

                         E-mail: miller.scott at nmnh.si.edu