U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2006–3079

May 2006

Natural History Collections: A Scientific Treasure Trove 

Printed on recycled paper

Natural history collections play an indispensable and often 

overlooked role in the conservation and management of our 

Nation’s flora and fauna. Scientific specimens housed in 

museum collections not only open an important window into 

the current and past diversity of life on Earth, but also play a 

vital role in fueling cutting-edge scientific research in many 

disciplines. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fort Collins 

Science Center (FORT) curates a collection of vertebrates from 

the Intermountain and Southwestern United States that is used 

by researchers from around the globe. As one of the largest 

Federal natural history collections in the western United States, 

the USGS specimen holdings offer unique opportunities to 

study the fauna of this incredibly diverse and unique region.

Characterizing Diversity

Nearly all of our organized knowledge of the distributions, 

diversity, and relationships of living organisms is the result of 

studying museum specimens. Our whole system of scientific 

nomenclature is based on examination of representative plants 

and animals in museums. In fact, individual species’ names are 

tied directly to holotype specimens (the original animals used 

to define each species) housed in museums, and nearly every 

known species of plant and animal is represented by one or 

more specimens in scientific museum collections. In addition 

to the role of specimens in supporting the concept of “species” 

as we currently understand it, the descriptions, illustrations, and 

range maps we commonly see in field guides that are used by 

millions of wildlife enthusiasts would not be possible without 

such collections. Anyone who has tried to describe a plant or 

animal from a fleeting observation can appreciate the great 

utility of today’s field guides that are grounded by study of 

scientific specimens.

Verifying Taxonomy

Scientists historically studied the morphological characteristics (for example, shape, size, and color) of museum specimens to define and differentiate plant and animal species. In 

recent decades, taxonomic studies have expanded upon the 

analysis of visible traits and now incorporate genetic information, a technique that relies heavily on tissue samples housed in 

museums. Taxonomists are continually revising and refining our 

understanding of the relationships among plants and animals 

at several different levels, ranging from subspecies to family. Revisiting such taxonomic relationships is imperative not 

only to our proper understanding of the natural world, but also 

for making sound conservation and management decisions. A 

basic tenet of science is that research findings can be validated. 

Natural history collections allow anyone to go back and test 

the criteria by which a given taxonomic group was established. 

Without such reference materials we would have no common 

scientific ground on which to stand, and these debates would go 

unresolved.

New Approaches

The utility of scientific museum collections extends far 

beyond classifying the relationships among plants and animals 

or delineating the distributions of particular species. Natural 

history collections are continually being used for ground-breaking research in numerous disciplines. Museum specimens are 

used to compare present and past conditions in plants and 

animals for such phenomena as changes in climate, shifts in 

distribution, occurrence or prevalence of disease, exposure to 

toxins and contaminants, and changes in population size. 

Federal scientists record body measurements and assess color variation in Grasshopper Sparrows. USGS photo. 

Series of Cassin’s Finches showing regional morphological variations. 

Photo by Jane Mygatt, University of New Mexico.
Furthermore, the range of uses for museum collections is 

always expanding. Materials housed in museums are regularly 

put to use in new and innovative ways to address contemporary 

questions pertaining to conservation and management. Like the 

scientists who originally collected each individual specimen, we 

cannot foresee the true potential of natural history collections. 

We can, however, anticipate an ever-increasing need. In view 

of both the current significance of natural history collections 

and their tremendous potential for fueling future discovery, the 

USGS participates in ensuring the growth and preservation of 

these national treasures of fundamental scientific importance.

Research Using the USGS-FORT Collection

Natural history collections maintained by USGS-FORT 

at the Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New 

Mexico, are regularly put to use both by USGS biologists and 

the international scientific community. Examples of ongoing 

studies include:

• inventorying and monitoring vertebrates on national parks and 

other Federal lands throughout the Western and Central United 

States;

• investigating the taxonomic relationships and geographic 

distributions of species of federal concern; 

• using specimen occurrence records and stable isotope analysis 

to determine continental patterns of migration;

• studying the past and current dynamics of infectious diseases 

(for example, hantavirus) in small mammals; and 

• comparing the past and present diets of animals from preserved and newly acquired specimens.

About the USGS-FORT Collection

The USGS-FORT natural history collection is curated by 

USGS staff and housed through a cooperative partnership at the 

Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service laboratory in Denver, Colorado, started the collection as an adjunct to studies of food habits of carnivores. The collection dates from the late 1920s and 

early 1930s and now contains specimens collected from across 

the Rocky Mountains and Intermountain West. Most recently, 

collection activities have focused on documenting mammal species from public lands in the West, leading to a particularly rich 

collection of bats and other small mammals. Other specimens 

in the collection include birds, amphibians and reptiles, and 

fishes. Of particular relevance are the almost 500,000 fish specimens collected from the Upper Colorado River Basin during 

or shortly after the closing of the major impoundments in the 

basin. Some of these fishes are now classified as endangered or 

threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

For inquiries about curatorial capabilities, research, 

service or partnership opportunities, please contact:

Cindy Ramotnik, Museum Specialist (Zoology)

 U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center

Department of Biology, University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM 87131

Tel: 505-277-5369 Fax: 505-277-0304

E:mail: ramotnik@usgs.gov

Museum of Southwestern Biology, 

USGS Vertebrate Collection

http://www.msb.unm.edu/USGS/index.html

For example:

• By examining the size, shape, or distribution of individuals, 

scientists can investigate how specific populations might 

respond to global warming. 

• By deriving the chemical “signatures” of archived museum 

specimens, it is now possible to infer the migratory origins 

of individuals or to evaluate their past exposure to environmental contaminants. 

• By analyzing the frozen tissues of museum specimens, 

scientists can test for the historical presence of harmful 

pathogens and emerging infectious diseases. 

• By extracting DNA from archived museum tissues, scientists can investigate changes in population structure or 

document loss in genetic diversity that accompanies severe 

range contraction or severe population declines.

Voucher rodent specimens collected during biological inventories 

conducted on public lands in Texas. USGS photo.