Talk by Dr. Cecilia Moran: Herbarium and Museum Collections for Biodiversity and Ecological Research

Summary

Dr. Cecilia B. Moran, a faculty member at the University of Santo Tomas and curator of the USD Herbarium, discusses the critical role of museum and herbarium collections in biodiversity and ecological research in the Philippines. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on fieldwork, she illustrates how these collections facilitate research, support taxonomy and systematics, and document species diversity. Dr. Moran emphasizes the importance of digitization for accessibility and international collaboration, advocating for the establishment of a network of Philippine curators and increased funding for scientific infrastructure to enhance biodiversity knowledge.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Dr. Cecilia B. Moran is a faculty member at the University of Santo Tomas and specializes in the systematics of Philippine endemic plants and biodiversity conservation.
• 📚 Her work has contributed to the discovery of new plant species and she has ongoing projects assessing flora and fauna in the Philippines.
• 🔬 Despite the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on fieldwork, research in biodiversity and ecology can continue using museum and herbarium collections.
• 🌱 Museum and herbarium collections are crucial for scientific studies, providing references for identifying biodiversity components.
• 📊 Primary biodiversity data from collections, combined with environmental data, can model species distribution and predict range shifts under future climate conditions.
• 🌳 Dr. Moran's research on the Philippine Exorus plant used herbarium specimens and online databases to establish baseline information on climatic niches.
• 🌟 Museum and herbarium collections support taxonomy and systematics, serving as references for species description and identification.
• 🔍 Digitization of museum collections is vital for facilitating research, attracting national and international researchers, and promoting international collaboration.
• 🌐 The establishment of a network of experts and a society of Philippine curators is essential for strengthening the role of collections in biodiversity knowledge generation.
• 💡 Museum and herbarium collections are an important asset for preserving known and unknown biodiversity, with potential for new discoveries and research opportunities.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Cecilia B. Moran?

Dr. Cecilia B. Moran is a faculty member of the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, and the Graduate School of the University of Santo Tomas. She is also the USD College of Science Secretary and Curator of the USD Herbarium, Vice Chair of the NRCP Biological Science Division 5, and Secretary of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines.

What is the significance of museum and herbarium collections in biodiversity and ecological research?

Museum and herbarium collections are essential foundations for scientific studies, providing references for identifying biodiversity components and serving various research purposes. They are crucial for documenting species presence, supporting taxonomy and systematics, and preserving physical specimens for formal scientific descriptions.

How has COVID-19 impacted field research for biologists?

COVID-19 has affected the scheduling of field works for biologists and field researchers, necessitating changes in how research is conducted to ensure the safety of participants and researchers.

What is the role of museum and herbarium collections in continuing research during the pandemic?

Despite the pandemic, museum and herbarium collections allow researchers to continue biodiversity and ecological research by providing essential data and specimens for study without the need for fieldwork.

What is the Philippine Exorus, and why is it significant in Dr. Moran's research?

The Philippine Exorus, commonly known as Suntan, is a plant species significant in Dr. Moran's research because it represents endemic species in the Philippines. Her study aims to establish baseline information about its climatic niches and potential range shifts under future climate conditions.

How can museum and herbarium collections be utilized for species distribution modeling?

Museum and herbarium collections can be used to model species distribution by combining primary biodiversity data with environmental data using numerical tools that identify environmental factors closely associated with species presence.

What are some challenges faced by researchers when using museum and herbarium collections?

Challenges include the need to access collections from multiple institutions, which can be demanding, and the cost of maintaining collections. Digitization of collections can help overcome these challenges by facilitating online data availability and access.

Why is digitization of museum and herbarium collections important?

Digitization is important for attracting national and international researchers, promoting international collaboration, and improving the knowledge of a country's biodiversity. It also helps in mobilizing existing collections and incorporating digital data into biodiversity science.

What initiatives are being taken to strengthen the role of collections in biodiversity knowledge generation in the Philippines?

Initiatives include the digitization of collections, establishing a network of experts, potential establishment of a society of Philippine curators, and collaborative projects focusing on understanding collections and establishing databases of plant and animal biodiversity.

How can Philippine museums and herbaria contribute to biodiversity research and education?

Philippine museums and herbaria can contribute by aggressively exposing younger researchers and students to collection-based research, incorporating digital data in biodiversity science, and providing access to biodiversity information to the general public, students, and researchers.