Responsible vouchering in turtle research: an introduction and recommendations

Lehn, Cathi and Das, I. and Forstner, Michael R.J. and Brown, Rafe M. (2007) Responsible vouchering in turtle research: an introduction and recommendations. Chelonian Research Monographs, 4. pp. 147-156. ISSN 1088-7105

Preview

PDF Responsible vouchering in turtle (abstract).pdf Download (84kB) | Preview

Abstract

Voucher specimens are critical to the advancement of research efforts on turtles, and by association, for conservation efforts associated with this group. This paper addresses the importance of voucher specimens and provides recommendations for responsible practices associated with voucher specimens. For the purposes of this paper, a voucher specimen is defined as a biological specimen, the primary function of which is to provide verification for the taxonomic identification assigned to an animal and any eventual published or reported scientific investigations associated with it. A traditional voucher specimen for a turtle consists of a fluid-preserved specimen or a complete skeleton and its associated data appropriately preserved for permanent storage and housed in a curated collection for posterity. Although not optimal, a non-traditional voucher may also provide verification for taxonomic identification and may include image or acoustic data, eggs or eggshells, or tissue samples. Examples are given of when a traditional voucher specimen deposited in a curated collection is recommended and when alternatives to the traditional voucher specimen, such as an evoucher, may be used. In addition, a worldwide survey of curated collections holding turtles was conducted and the percentage of turtles represented in reptile collections is reported.

Actions (For repository members only: login required)

View Item