Collection,curation and the use of humidification to restore nest shape in a research museum bird nest collection

Background:Bird nests are an important part of avian ecology.They are a powerful tool for studying not only the birds that built them,but a wide array of topics ranging from parasitology,urbanisation and climate change to evolu-tion.Despite this,bird nests tend to be underrepresented in natural history collections,a problem that should be redressed through renewed focus by collecting institutions.Methods:Here we outline the history and current best practice collection and curatorial methods for the nest col-lection of the Australian National Wildlife Collection(ANWC).We also describe an experiment conducted on nests in the ANWC using ultrasonic humidification to restore the shape of nests damaged by inappropriate storage.Results:The experiment showed that damaged nests can be successfully reshaped to close to their original dimen-sions.Indeed,restored nests were significantly closer to their original shape than they were prior to restoration.Thus,even nests damaged by years of neglect may be fully incorporated into active research collections.Best practice techniques include extensive note taking and photography in the field,subsampling of nests that cannot or should not be collected,appropriate field storage,metadata management,and prompt treatment upon arrival at the collec-tion facility.Conclusions:Renewed focus on nest collections should include appropriate care and restoration of current col-lections,as well as expansion to redress past underrepresentation.This could include collaboration with researchers studying or monitoring avian nesting ecology,and nest collection after use in bird species that rebuild anew each nesting attempt.Modern expansion of museum nest collections will allow researchers and natural history collections to fully realise the scientific potential of these complex and beautiful specimens.

An ecological perspective on Joseph Rock’s(1884-1962)plant collection activities in China

In the early 20th century,numerous western botanists,often referred to as‘plant hunters’,embarked on ambitious expeditions to China,playing a crucial role in the study of botany and botanical diversity.Despite their contributions,comprehensive assessments of their explorations are lacking.To bridge this gap,this article focuses on the work of Joseph Charles Francis Rock,a notable figure in that era.Our work revisits Rock’s botanical expeditions within the broader context of botanical diversity conservation.It outlines his historical experiences in collecting plants in China and enumerates the species composition and phenotypic traits of the plants he collected.Additionally,it also analyzes the spatial distribution of the species,the completeness of his collection and the α-and β-diversity of the plants he collected.Our findings reveal that Rock led four major botanical expeditions in China between 1922 and 1933,amassing a total of 28184 sheets and 16608 numbers across 204 families,1081 genera and 4231 species.His focus was predominantly on ornamental species,which exhibit a variety of flower colors and inflorescences.His collection work spanned 5 provinces,35 cities and 72 counties,with a notable concentration in the Hengduan Mountains,a current biodiversity hotspot.This study not only reconstructs Rock’s botanical legacy but also offers valuable historical data and fresh analytical insights for understanding contemporary plant diversity.It contributes to the ongoing discourse on the importance of preserving plant diversity as a cornerstone of environmental sustainability.