How the Collection is Used
The vast majority of the collection is derived from the activities of the natural history sections within the Australian Museum. The collection contains molluscs, arthropods, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Researchers within the Museum use small sub-samples of specimens held in the collection for various projects, but the collection is basically "held in posterity". At the discretion of the Collection Manager, the material is also available to researchers external to the Museum. This is governed by the terms and conditions of a Specimen Licence Agreement and payment of a small processing fee (we do not charge for curation of tissues or incorporate the cost of collection in this licensing fee).
The primary use of the tissue collection is as a resource for molecular genetic studies. For the most part, these aid in issues of species/population management and provide data necessary for informed debate on biodiversity and conservation. It is also widely used in systematic studies. The existence of this resource can obviate the need for unnecessary collection and sacrifice of animals for such studies. In the case of research involving endangered or extinct species, such biochemical or genetic investigations may only be possible if material is already held in a collection of this sort. While its primary function at present is a resource for genetic studies, this may not be the case in the future. The tissue collection, like other biological collections will no doubt serve future needs that may not have been considered today.
Future directions
Taronga and Western Plains Zoos
There is a growing component of tissues in the collection derived as a by-product of post-mortem examinations at Taronga and Western Plains Zoos. The aim of this arrangement is to save a valuable resource for later studies, which would otherwise be discarded. Although we are principally interested in exotics and endangered or vulnerablespecies, we also value samples of some of the more common species that may not be represented in the collection.
The national database
Groundwork has begun for setting up the Australian Biological Tissue Collection, an initiative of the South Australian Museum. It will comprise the tissue collections of each State's museum, and be electronically catalogued. The South Australian, Western Australian and Northern Territory Museums' tissue collections are already computerised, and the Australian Museum's collection is well on the way. Such a scheme will allow NSW government agencies and other researchers better access to interstate data for biodiversity and other research projects. Along with the Australian biota, that of South-East Asia and the South-West Pacific is substantially represented. When fully implemented, it will include in excess of 100,000 specimens - probably the largest in the world.
Genome resource network of Australasia
(GRNA) The GRNA was established in 1997. It aims to link those collecting, storing and using biological materials for research, management and conservation. This encompasses State conservation agencies, CSIRO, Cooperative Research Centres and universities, etc. The Museum, as a major repository of such material, is in a position to be a key contributor to the Network.
Opportunistic collection
Only in its infancy at present, opportunistic collection should substantially enhance the collection's breadth. As well as the NSW NPWS, we hope that this will become a routine practice of other field workers and organisations.
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