Improvements to the Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) Fish Collection, Phase I: Relocation and Reorganization

University Of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM

Investigators

Abstract

This project will relocate the Museum of Southwestern Biology (University of New Mexico) Division of Fishes to a new facility, reorganize the collection and verify specimen records, check and replenish alcohol concentration, transfer collections from isopropanol to ethanol, and complete curation and computerization of the collection. The collection comprises 2 million larval and adult fishes, representing the imperiled ichthyofauna of the southwestern US. Collections encompass a 60 year history and provide a detailed account of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on fish communities on the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers. Collection improvements will enhance research access to data, information, and collection records, and stabilize the collection in a larger and better storage space.