Global sampling decline erodes science potential of natural history collections.

ABSTRACT: The world's natural history collections hold over two billion specimens, representing a unique spatial and taxonomic record of biodiversity on Earth over time. In recent decades, the accessibility and value of collections data have grown through specimen digitisation, enhanced connectivity, and enriched information from new genotyping and digital trait extraction. These advances are expanding the relevance of collections beyond taxonomy and evolutionary biology to fields like environmental monitoring, agriculture, biosecurity, and public health. However, their utility for addressing major global challenges relies on mobilising legacy data and continuing specimen collection and digitisation. Here we show substantial declines in the rates of collection of specimen data over recent decades, f

SUBMITTER: Forbes O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12537823 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature