NSF Org:	DBI Division of Biological Infrastructure
Recipient:	ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA
Initial Amendment Date:	June 30, 2011
Latest Amendment Date:	June 30, 2011
Award Number:	1115131
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Reed Beaman rsbeaman@nsf.gov  (703)292-7163 DBI  Division of Biological Infrastructure BIO  Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	July 1, 2011
End Date:	June 30, 2016 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$105,788.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$105,788.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2011 = $105,788.00
History of Investigator:	Tatyana Livshultz (Principal Investigator) tl534@drexel.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia 1900 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PKWY PHILADELPHIA PA  US  19103-1101 (215)299-1065
Sponsor Congressional District:	03
Primary Place of Performance:	Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia 1900 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PKWY PHILADELPHIA PA  US  19103-1101
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	03
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	NFLBGA5A1RB9
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Digitization
Primary Program Source:	01001112DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	6895
Program Element Code(s):	689500
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.074

ABSTRACT

Lichens and bryophytes share biological traits that make them some of the most sensitive indicators of environmental change. The goal of this project is to provide high quality data to address how species distributions change as a result of major environmental events across time and space. Specifically, this project will digitize the label information (the what, when, where and by whom collected) and images for approximately 2.3 million biological specimens curated in North American lichen and bryophyte herbaria. These collections represent well over 90% of all specimens collected in Canada, the United States and Mexico and held by over 60 US non-governmental institutions. New, on-line digitization techniques will be made publically available at at http://symbiota.org/nalichens/ and http://symbiota.org/bryophytes/, and will allow interested members of the public to be involved and learn about biodiversity alongside the professionals.

Availability of nearly the entire North American bryophyte and lichen collections on-line will greatly accelerate knowledge and evaluation of the biodiversity of these organisms by fostering collaborations between professionals and the general public. Additionally, models developed from these digitized data will aid future mapping projections of large scale species distributions and identification of biodiversity hotspots as prime candidates for protection. These endeavors will help to elucidate regions where changes are imminent and likely to have substantial impact, as well as to facilitate proactive initiatives to alleviate such changes. This award is made as part of the National Resource for Digitization of Biological Collections through the Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections program and all data resulting from this award will be available through the national resource.

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

This collaborative project created online searchable databases of North American lichen and bryophyte specimens held in US herbaria, collections of preserved plant specimens. The botanical herbarium of the Academy of Natural Sciences (accronym PH) is the oldest institutional herbarium in the Americas, with some of the earliest  collections from North America. PH has contributed 47,397 data records to the bryophyte database at http://bryophyteportal.org/, 34,108 (72%) with images, and 24,338 (51%) georeferenced (with determination of latitude/longitude coordinates) . PH has also contributed 18,026 records to the lichen database at http://www.lichenportal.org/, 17,241 (96%) with images, and 12,301 (68%) are georeferenced. In the process, all specimens were curated to ensure their preservation for future study. Intellectual merit. These databases are freely available on the internet and will enable specimen based research, including research on environmental change. Broader impacts. All specimen records are freely available to the public for any use including teaching and self-guided study.  Fifteen volunteers and student interns were trained in the conservation and use of physical and digital biodiversity collections. Collections staff at PH expanded their skills in digitization project management and curation of digital collections. The creation of digital records will facilitate conservation and researcher access to physical collections.

 

 

Last Modified: 09/26/2016
Modified by: Tatyana Livshultz

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.