Why do natural history collections matter?
When thinking of natural history collections, many people imagine that drawers of specimens are simply collecting dust, and that the use of museum specimens in research is a largely archaic practice. As those involved with natural history collections can tell you, this is far from the truth; every biological specimen holds a wealth of information that remains relevant even hundreds of years after it was collected. Due to natural history collections’ ability to provide baseline information as compared to modern data, they are essential for any study that seeks to understand change over time. This includes a significant number of different biological sub-fields; whether you want to understand population genetics or the effects of pollution, natural history collections are essential.
Furthermore, as time passes and our technology advances, we will continue to be able to pull more and more data from specimens. Samples collected from before we knew that DNA existed are now able to have their entire genome sequenced, and specimens from before climate change became a serious issue are able to be compared to their modern counterparts. New ways to extract and understand information from specimens are continually being studied, and data we may not even be aware of yet could become available in the future. Natural history collections are an essential part of how we seek to understand biology, and their preservation and use should be prioritized wherever possible.
What’s special about the Cosman Shell Collection?
In addition to the clear benefits of having such a large and biodiverse collection of shells, Dieter Cosman’s collection style adds extra scientific value and greater potential for study. First, his clear and consistent recording of metadata about each lot he collected means that scientists can include factors such as time, location, collection method, and various other details in their analysis of the specimens themselves. Second, while Cosman did collect his fair share of large and beautiful specimens, his goal was to have some of everything instead of only the aesthetically pleasing shells that collectors typically focus on. This allows for the study of many different taxonomic groups of shells, not of only the charismatic species. This somewhat random sampling is also important for statistical tests conducted in research, so this collection is highly usable for many different types of studies. Overall, the Cosman Shell Collection is an incredibly valuable resource for many biological fields of study, and its preservation as well as accessibility for study is very important.
