goats, gers and gigabytes:

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GOATS, GERS AND GIGABYTES: Information Challenges Facing Museums Today Kathy Omura Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County The primary goal of this expedition was to collect branchiopod crustaceans from ephemeral habitats for molecular and morphological systematics research. The secondary goal was to identify new crustacean species. Finding new species is likely, since this region is poorly sampled and appears to have a high rate of endemism. 115 freshwater sites were sampled on a 3000 kilometer journey through central and southern Mongolia. Each red dot is a sample site. Clicking on a site queries the database and displays all the data for that site. http://collections. nhm .org/ mongolia Mongolia 2002 Expedition Collection data are core to the scientific value of collections. Timely dissemination of field and collection data is key to making specimens available to researchers and others. Web accessibility of field notes, lot data, GPS coordinates, digital images, and other information enhances the relevance of the collection. Our Mongolia 2002 Expedition website is an example of efficient processing of a recently acquired collection. The website queries a lot database and displays all images taken during the expedition, provides easy access to background information, taxonomic information, and more. Higher-level taxonomic identifications allow researchers to assess what material might be of interest. Anyone can peruse the database and view habitat images, and therefore the usefulness of the site extends beyond taxonomists and systematists to ecologists, geologists, hydrologists, and others. Charging the laptop was a nightly routine Ulaanbaatar Mandalgovi Dalandzadgad Arvayheer Bayanhong or Tsetserleg Chin a Expedition Route Mongolia Sampling for small crustaceans at a desert spring Camel drivers help with directions to next destination Toads from a marshy area at the edge of Boon Tsagaan Nuur (lake) Ger and cabin near Terkhiyn Tsagaan Nuur and home for 2 nights Russia China Mongolia

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Russia. Mongolia. Mongolia. China. China. Expedition Route. Ulaanbaatar. Tsetserleg. Arvayheer. Bayanhongor. Mandalgovi. Dalandzadgad. GOATS, GERS AND GIGABYTES: Information Challenges Facing Museums Today Kathy Omura Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: GOATS, GERS AND GIGABYTES:

GOATS, GERS AND GIGABYTES:Information Challenges Facing Museums Today

Kathy OmuraNatural History Museum of Los Angeles County

The primary goal of this expedition was to collect branchiopod crustaceans from ephemeral habitats for molecular and morphological systematics research. The secondary goal was to identify new crustacean species. Finding new species is likely, since this region is poorly sampled and appears to have a high rate of endemism. 115 freshwater sites were sampled on a 3000 kilometer journey through central and southern Mongolia.

Each red dot is a sample site. Clicking on a site queries the database and displays all the data for that site.

http://collections.nhm.org/mongolia

Mongolia 2002 Expedition

Collection data are core to the scientific value of collections. Timely dissemination of field and collection data is key to making specimens available to researchers and others. Web accessibility of field notes, lot data, GPS coordinates, digital images, and other information enhances the relevance of the collection.

Our Mongolia 2002 Expedition website is an example of efficient processing of a recently acquired collection. The website queries a lot database and displays all images taken during the expedition, provides easy access to background information, taxonomic information, and more. Higher-level taxonomic identifications allow researchers to assess what material might be of interest. Anyone can peruse the database and view habitat images, and therefore the usefulness of the site extends beyond taxonomists and systematists to ecologists, geologists, hydrologists, and others.

Charging the laptop was a nightly routine

Ulaanbaatar

Mandalgovi

Dalandzadgad

ArvayheerBayanhongor

Tsetserleg

China

Expedition Route

Mongolia

Sampling for small crustaceans at a desert spring

Camel drivers help with directions to next destination

Toads from a marshy area at the edge of Boon Tsagaan Nuur (lake)

Ger and cabin near Terkhiyn Tsagaan Nuur and home for 2 nights

Russia

China

Mongolia