Biological collections and Capacity Statement

The purpose of biological collections is to collect, document and store, in readily retrievable form, the species of flora and fauna in a secure and accessible form. Biological collections are physical databases of the variability of biodiversity.

Systematics is the branch of science built on taxonomy (discovering, identifying, describing, naming and classifying living organisms), phylogenetic analysis (the discovery of evolutionary relationships) and classification (grouping living organisms on the basis of evolutionary relationships).

Biodiversity (or biological diversity) is the total variety of all living things on Earth. It can be divided into genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.

Australia is one of the world’s most megadiverse nations and we still live in the ‘Age of Discovery’. Most of Australia’s biodiversity is unique to this continent. While only 35% of Australia’s species are named, information about most of Australia’s flora and fauna is available from biological collections.

CSIRO Australian Biological Collection is an important part of CSIRO’s Environment and Natural Resource Management Sector and is based at CSIRO Entomology, Marine Research, Plant Industry and Wildlife & Ecology. In addition, there are several other specialist collections in CSIRO.

• Biosystematic research of organisms of scientific, economic and environmental importance applying morphological and molecular technologies including

– identification tools
– checklists and catalogues
– taxonomic monographs
– predictive classification
– floristics and biodiversity documentation

– specimen records
– nomenclatural data
– descriptive data
– geographic data

– national
– regional
– taxon-based

– accession
– curation
– loans and exchange

– research
– identification
– distribution and ecological data

– specimen handling
– collection management and curation
– systematics
– identification
– nomenclature
– biodiversity informatics technology
– flora and fauna surveys

– an important national and global repositories for voucher material
– an important scientific resource for systematic and environmental research and decision-making cares for or acquires neglected or orphaned collections
– accepts donations of collections, including under the Cultural Bequests Program


		Home \| Biological collections \| Capacity Statement \| ANH \| ANIC \| ANWC \| ANFC \| Other Collections \| Products & Achievements Biological collections The purpose of biological collections is to collect, document and store, in readily retrievable form, the species of flora and fauna in a secure and accessible form. Biological collections are physical databases of the variability of biodiversity. Systematics Systematics is the branch of science built on taxonomy (discovering, identifying, describing, naming and classifying living organisms), phylogenetic analysis (the discovery of evolutionary relationships) and classification (grouping living organisms on the basis of evolutionary relationships). Biodiversity Biodiversity (or biological diversity) is the total variety of all living things on Earth. It can be divided into genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. Megadiversity and discovery Australia is one of the world’s most megadiverse nations and we still live in the ‘Age of Discovery’. Most of Australia’s biodiversity is unique to this continent. While only 35% of Australia’s species are named, information about most of Australia’s flora and fauna is available from biological collections. CSIRO’s Environment and Natural Resource Management Sector CSIRO Australian Biological Collection is an important part of CSIRO’s Environment and Natural Resource Management Sector and is based at CSIRO Entomology, Marine Research, Plant Industry and Wildlife & Ecology. In addition, there are several other specialist collections in CSIRO. TOP Capacity Statement • Biosystematic research of organisms of scientific, economic and environmental importance applying morphological and molecular technologies including – identification tools – checklists and catalogues – taxonomic monographs – predictive classification – floristics and biodiversity documentation • Databasing, management of data and analysis of – specimen records – nomenclatural data – descriptive data – geographic data • Fauna and flora surveys – national – regional – taxon-based • Identification and advice • Management of Biological Collections – accession – curation – loans and exchange • Access to collections – research – identification – distribution and ecological data • Training in – specimen handling – collection management and curation – systematics – identification – nomenclature – biodiversity informatics technology – flora and fauna surveys • CSIRO Australian Biological Collection – an important national and global repositories for voucher material – an important scientific resource for systematic and environmental research and decision-making cares for or acquires neglected or orphaned collections – accepts donations of collections, including under the Cultural Bequests Program TOP CSIRO \| CSIRO Plant Industry \| CSIRO Entomology \| CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems \| CSIRO Marine Research \| Australian National Botanic Gardens

		last updated: April 2003

last updated: April 2003