Talks/Discussion Details
Best practices of fossil collecting session
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Corinne Myers Talk title: So you wanna collect fossils… Talk abstract: For many paleontologists (at all levels of their academic journey) fieldwork is a bright spot on the research horizon to be focused on and prioritized. While collecting fossil specimens IS fun and educational, it’s also expensive, time-consuming, and often the smallest piece of the research puzzle. When, where, why, and how we collect fossil specimens are questions that must be answered BEFORE a field expedition is planned, and who we do fieldwork with is an important and sometimes overlooked component of a successful trip. Here I will focus on my experience doing collection-based fieldwork in the Cretaceous Western Interior Basin and U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain. I’ll cover types of research questions and how collecting relates to broader research programs, the importance of “seeing the rocks” for collection context, the value of fieldwork in mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, the importance of repositing collections in museums, and a bit on funding field expeditions. Collecting fossils via fieldwork is a wonderful way to excite and inspire students (and researchers!) in paleo-related primary research that contributes to our understanding of the history of life!
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Jorge Vélez-Juarbe Talk title: Fossil collecting in the Neotropics: experiences from the Greater Antilles Talk abstract: The islands of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, located in the Caribbean region, have a complex geologic history that is intimately tied to the formation of the Caribbean Plate. Their geologic history combined with their rich biodiversity makes them a perfect study case for understanding evolution in and around tropical islands, and how local and global geologic and climatic phenomena have shaped and influenced their past and present biodiversity. Some of the main research questions that are of particular interest are: 1) the timing of colonization of the islands by terrestrial plants and vertebrates; 2) extinction of terrestrial fauna during the Pleistocene-Holocene. Fossiliferous deposits in these islands range from the Jurassic through the Quaternary and include multiple types of fossil preservation, each with their unique challenges. While fossil bearing deposits are primarily marine limestones, there are also more siliciclastic coastal deposits that tend to harbor a mix of marine with rare terrestrial plants and vertebrates. Additionally, extensive subaerial exposure of the limestone deposits, primarily during the latest part of the Cenozoic, has resulted in the formation of karst topography, which has facilitated the accumulation and preservation of terrestrial vertebrates in fissures and caves.
Besides the usual challenges related to the types of preservation there is also the ephemeral nature of the fossiliferous outcrops. Dense, quick-growing tropical vegetation covers most of the natural areas in these islands, so outcrops often occur as the result of construction, particularly new or improvements to existing roads and highways. New outcrops resulting from these activities are often overgrown by vegetation after a few years so collecting efforts need to be maximized across a relatively short period of time. More naturally-occurring outcrops can often be found along the banks of rivers or along coastal cliffs, but these are also constantly changing due to water erosion, particularly after the rainy/hurricane season. On the other hand, cave deposits generally consist of unconsolidated sediment and are more protected from vegetation, however access to these sites can be more complicated and often entails finding paths across densely forested areas, and in some cases may require rappelling skills and equipment. Besides these challenges, renewed interest in paleontological research in the Caribbean has grown substantially over the last 20 years, led by collaborative efforts spearheaded by local and external institutions, resulting in a growing understanding of the past and present diversity of the region.
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Hunter Olson Talk title: Best practices for working on Indigenous lands within the United States Talk abstract: Within the United States, federally recognized tribes directly manage an estimated 56.2 million acres of land. Unlike federal public or privately managed lands, reservations have different laws and policies that govern paleontological resources. Thus, resources from reservations or former reservation lands have unique considerations and requirements when collecting, storing, and publishing data. While each Tribe will have laws and policies that are specific to their territory, there are overarching protocols from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and federal law that are applicable across all reservation lands. This presentation will highlight historical and current policies to contextualize the overarching legal framework for working on reservation lands. Topics will include contacts needed from tribal governments and federal organizations, and differences between federal trust, restricted, and fee simple lands on and off reservations. Lastly, the talk will cover more collections-focused considerations for fossils from indigenous lands: the application of CARE and FAIR principles and ethical considerations for the management and publishing of Indigenous data.
Best practices of fossil collections and museums session
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Ashley Dineen Talk title: Paleo Collections 101: Everything you need to know about collecting data in a museum Talk abstract: In this talk, I’ll cover everything that a researcher (both early and late career) should know about visiting a natural history collection and collecting data from paleontological specimens. This includes how to request a visit (or a loan), the benefits and limitations of collections data, what questions you should consider prior to your visit, and the etiquette involved in working with fossil specimens. I’ll also address the best ways to add your own collection to a repository, and what you can do to make the process as smooth as possible. Lastly, advice about what you, as a researcher, can provide the museum with while you are generating your own scientific data. Proper use of natural history collections needs to be taken into account in order to ensure that these collections will be available for future generations.
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Andy Farke Talk title: Small Collections, Big Impacts, and Navigating the World of Paleontological Repositories as a Researcher Talk abstract: Fossils and their accompanying contextual data are the raw materials of most paleontological research. This trove of information is usually housed in museum collections, which aspire to house a long-term, accessible record of our planet’s history. Museums come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from “megamuseums” (large, often long-established collections usually of international scope) to mid-sized collections to small local repositories that may or may not have paleontologically trained staff. Each kind of institution may have different available resources and may require different kinds of planning for a collections visit. In all cases, long-term planning and open communication with collections staff are key to ensure the success of a research visit. Researchers using collections should aim to be as transparent as possible and should plan in advance for protocols that involve molding and casting, scanning, or consumptive/destructive sampling. These often require additional approval, particularly for fossils from federal lands or other holdings not directly owned by the museum. Any institutional stipulations or restrictions for collections access or use should be reviewed carefully, both to ensure that the researcher is acting ethically but also to identify and address cases where the stipulations contradict best practices in the discipline. In these cases, researchers who are more established in the field can step up to advocate for specimen access and policy change.
Large, frequently utilized collections may have a more formal access protocol and also may have more resources available for visiting scholars (e.g., equipment, dedicated research space, travel funds, etc.). They are also more likely (but not always) to have a greater percentage of the collection digitized. Significant but overlooked specimens exist in all collections, but collections “off the beaten path” often have the greatest potential for unstudied material and mutually beneficial research visits. In many cases, small, regional museums have the best (or sometimes only) examples of particular taxa or assemblages. In this case, connecting with individuals who supervise the collection can be key, and they will often be happy to assist with answering questions in advance of a research visit. Visiting researchers may also be able to provide considerable assistance with providing context or identifications for specimens, too, particularly in collections that are not on the usual research trail. Particularly for areas near productive outcrops, the host museum may be able to facilitate connections with local landowners or amateur collectors, or provide unique opportunities for community engagement and outreach. In cases where collections are managed by non-specialists, researchers have an extra responsibility to represent their field of study through ethical research practices, and an extra opportunity to serve the research community by assisting museums. Those who are conducting fieldwork should engage with local institutions, not only to access “unknown” collections, but also to establish community connections and be a part of local research infrastructure. Finally, sharing publication results with collections staff is an important but often neglected step. Particularly for less-utilized collections, publications by outside researchers can be key for generating excitement and support for the collection within its community.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Don Mikulic Talk title: A crisis in collections Talk abstract: Paleontological collections represent a critical component of scientific research and education. These collections and the localities that produced them may also have been essential in defining the natural and cultural features of many geoheritage sites. Despite a fundamental recognition of their importance, even within some of the most prestigious institutions, only a limited number of collections receive adequate care to maximize their potential use and ensure their long-term preservation. This lack of effort results in the continuing degradation of many collections, undermining the research potential of an enormous amount of existing material. Fossils collected in the past and the future should be viewed as non-renewable resources that must be appropriately documented and housed once removed from the ground. Most of this material is irreplaceable regardless of the time and cost that could be expended to acquire additional or replacement specimens. In vast areas of the country, many historical localities that were the source of older collections used in classical research no longer exist. Among the most critical issues remain orphan and lost collections. While some prominent orphan collections have been identified and “adopted” in recent years, the future scope of this problem could be enormous. Interest in preserving orphan collections is frequently retroactive in nature following announcements that a collection is being considered for disposal. However, there should be efforts to identify unwanted collections earlier to prevent degradation or loss of information. Most museums, large or small, house a few “lost” collections that are merely placed in dead storage with no plans to salvage this material. Other issues of concern cover a wide range of topics such as deaccession standards, improving documentation and preservation of field notes, ethics of use, comprehensive organization strategies, establishing cross-referencing relationships of specimens, preservation of thesis material, a compilation of missing type specimens or collections, sampling standards documentation and preservation of surviving collecting sites to name a few. For many collection repositories, developing a mission statement identifying the primary focus of specimen acquisitions should be essential. All institutions should include the acquisition of local specimens as a high priority for continuing collection development. They should also inventory unprocessed material and establish plans to process it, not just focus on newer incoming specimens. Every institution should develop plans to determine what to take in, what to keep, and how to use it to prevent the waste of enormous past efforts and expenses.
Short Course Panelists: Topics of Discussion
Austin Hendy Topics of discussion: Getting the most out of a collections visit; collection data: what to trust, what not to trust, how to know, and when does it matter; museum digitization: past progress, present needs, and future prospectus
Lisa White Topics of discussion: Engaging the diverse communities via collections, fieldwork, and virtual exhibits
Leigh Anne Riedman Topics of discussion: Sampling from drillcore, accession of microfossil materials including holotypes
Susannah Porter Topics of discussion: Managing personal collections for ease of access and for posterity
Scott Wing Topics of discussion: Considering the long history of collections management practices and how they have changed over time at particular museums
Jansen Smith Topics of discussion: Professional credit/incentives for data producers
Margaret Fraiser Topics of discussion: U.S. National Science Foundation Division of Earth Sciences data, storage, and permit policies
Pat Holroyd Topics of discussion: Ethics of using collections made by others; challenging requests for curatorial assistance; gender equity issues in paleontology
Stan Finney Topics of discussion: Addressing a diversity of geological problems that require extensive collecting on private and public lands
Nigel Hughes Topics of discussion: Acquiring and repositing collections (including those collected abroad); curatorial issues as a museum curator; geoscience educational outreach projects in countries in which fieldwork is being done; working closely with avocational paleontologists
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