Planning, project management,
consultancy, survey
and analysis in coastal and offshore sectors
Preserving Information
The EMU Reference Collection
Reference collections have long been an important part of taxonomy, providing type material and voucher specimens for scientists though the ages. One just needs to go behind the scenes of establishments such as the Natural History Museum in order to appreciate the wealth of information contained within such collections. Jar upon jar of preserved specimens provide a record of species, both domestic and exotic, collected from countless diverse habitats across the globe.
Reference collections are not only the preserve of time-honoured institutions. Here at EMU Limited we maintain an extensive reference collection of our own, spanning a decade of sampling in the marine environment. From 140 projects we have catalogued over 14,000 individual specimens. The image shows a portion of the EMU Master Reference Collection.
Building a Collection
A reference collection is compiled for every project the EMU benthic laboratory undertakes. An individual of each species encountered is placed into the collection and assigned a number to allow traceability. Once the project is completed the collection is quality controlled to ensure the accuracy of identifications. Once this has occurred the project collection is added to the Master Reference Collection and its details merged with the main database. The collection is kept onsite for rapid and easy access; in a few minutes the required specimen can be located and extracted for interrogation.
Below is a description of the value of the Master Reference Collection, and how it is used to improve the quality of our work.
Type Material
A reference collection provides type material; basically a quality assured example of a species. If there is any question as to the identification of a new specimen, the type material can be consulted; often this will assist the taxonomist. With an extensive reference collection such as EMU’s, more than one example of each species is often available; this allows morphological differences due to size, habitat and gender to be observed.
Mitrella blanda from Bahrain and
Angulus tenuis 7-15mm size series
In addition to native fauna, the EMU collection also includes foreign material, from such areas as the Middle East, the coast of Africa and the Mediterranean. Often the identification of foreign material is made difficult by the paucity of taxonomic literature. The foreign component of EMU’s collection is thus invaluable for our overseas work.
Voucher Material
The collection also doubles as a voucher system, providing a lasting record of all EMU projects. This allows historical comparisons of fauna, as well as a permanent quality system should the accuracy of the data ever be disputed. A reference collection is produced for every EMU project, and is incorporated into the Master Reference Collection, adding to the wealth of information and keeping its data intact indefinitely.
Training Aid
Type specimens are invaluable for training, allowing inexperienced staff members to see a wide variety of fauna. The collection also provides material for focused training workshops on notoriously difficult groups.
Parting Comments
In conclusion, the maintenance and continued expansion of the EMU Master Reference Collection enables us to improve our taxonomic accuracy, as well as providing a quality assurance system for our previous work.
Deep knowledge in shallow seas
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