1. CORRESPONDENCE
Accessing biological collections data of Indian origin
Natural history collections are essential lections data. With the global and regio- taxonomic impediments. We appeal to
for biodiversity research, as they are time nal biodiversity informatics initiatives the community of taxonomists and eco-
capsules to analyse conditions from the such as GBIF2, ENBI3, BioCASE4, Bio- logists to participate in this initiative by
past and compare them with our present- CISE5, Species Analyst6, ENHSIN7, etc., helping us in identifying the museums
day state of affairs. The baseline data sharing data about these specimens with abroad that hold significant quantum of
that these collections provide can be used the countries of origin is gaining momen- our biological specimens. Detailed in-
to measure biological variations and tum. However, it is equally important that formation on taxa categories, type of
environmental changes. Curatorial capa- countries of origin too initiate appropriate specimens and number of samples housed
cities and biological reference collec- steps, and share responsibility that would in museums abroad, along with informa-
tions are the base for taxonomic work. be complementary to these initiatives. tion on when and where they were collec-
Internationally, sharing of information is Developing nations such as India, with ted and by whom, would be of immense
an essential factor in overcoming the their major scientifically documented bio- help in approaching these museums to
taxonomic impediments, because there is logical collections in museums abroad, share the data with the Indian scientific
often a narrow understanding of what a need to undertake a national drive to en- community.
species is, and removing the taxonomic sure access to data on these specimens.
impediments implies a wider understand- This calls for an all-India coordinated
ing of the taxonomic hierarchy. programme on repatriating data on speci- 1. Chavan, Vishwas and Krishnan, S., Curr.
However, contrary to the spread of mens of Indian origin housed in museums Sci., 2003, 84, 34–42.
diversity of life which is more concen- abroad. Some of the developing coun- 2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility,
trated within tropical regions that constitute tries such as Mexico, Brazil and Costa available at http://www.gbif.org.
mostly developing and under-developed Rica, have already progressed well with 3. European Network for Biodiversity Infor-
parts of the world, collections facilities such initiatives. For instance, Mexico has mation, available at http://www.enbi.info.
from developed nations are rich with made an assessment of its national taxo- 4. Biological Collection Access Service for
Europe, available at http://www.biocase.
specimens collected from these once-poor nomic capacities on zoological, botanical
org.
nations. It is estimated that around 6500 and microbiological collections8, as part
5. Biological Collection Information Service
museums throughout the world house of National Biological Inventory Pro- in Europe, available at http://www.bgbm.
around 3 billion specimens1, most of gramme (CONABIO)8. As a fundamental fuberlin.de/biocise/.
which belong to developing nations such step to improve its capacities, CONABIO 6. Species Analyst, available at http://speci-
as India. Due to our colonial past, bio- has databased Mexican collections, repa- esanalyst.net/.
logical specimens collected during pre- triated data on collections around the 7. European Natural History Specimen In-
independence and even post-independence world and is training taxonomists to formation Network, available at http://
are deposited with European museums manage information. www.nhm.ac.uk/science/rco/enhsin/.
(especially UK, Denmark, France, Portu- Realizing this, the NCL Centre for 8. National Commission for the Knowledge
and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO),
gal, etc.) and North American collection Biodiversity Informatics (http://www.ncbi.
available at http://www.conabio.gob.mx/.
facilities, most of which are type speci- org.in/) has taken up the development of
mens. a web-interfaced database called ‘ABCD
Access to these specimens by Indian of Indian Origin’ (Access to Biological
researchers, when needed most, is time- Collections Data of Indian Origin). Acces-
consuming and expensive due to the geo- sible at http://www.ncbi.org.in/abcdio/,
APARNA V. WATVE
graphic distances, lack of communication its aim is to collate information and digi-
JITENDRA GAIKWAD
infrastructure and financial support. How- tized images of specimens that are housed
VISHWAS CHAVAN*
ever, with the advent of information and in herbariums and museums abroad. So
communication technology, it is now fea- far, data on more than 30,000 specimens
sible to access data on these specimens, spanning over 15 museums and collec-
if not the specimens themselves. During tion facilities from UK, USA, Australia, Information Division,
the past decade, most of the museums Sweden and Canada have been acquired National Chemical Laboratory,
from developed nations have initiated and collated. Our experience of collating Dr Homi Bhabha Road,
digitizing the specimens that they are the data indicates that once enriched, the Pune 411 008, India
holding, as they are finding it increas- data would be of significance in our bio- *For correspondence
ingly difficult to access and manage col- diversity research and in overcoming e-mail: vishwas@ems. ncl.res.in
8 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 86, NO. 1, 10 JANUARY 2004