Accessing MVZ:A Primer and Demo of Arctos, MVZ’s Collection Management

System, for Biodiversity Researchers

http://arctos.database.museum

What is Arctos?

Arctos is an ongoing effort to integrate museum data, collection management tools, and external resources on the Web.

Arctos is designed to maximize access to multiple data types for biodiversity research.

Two instances3M total specimens

7 collections1 institution

1.6M specimens

39 collections7 institutions

1.4M specimens

Arctos is part of a broader data network community

Breadth of Data Types in Arctos

SPECIMENS

Fieldnotes, Maps, and Images

Audio DNA Relations GIS Projects/Pubs

Collection Types

Mammals Birds Herps

Eggs and Nests

Plants

Fossils Insects Fishes

Arctos also includes observational data!

Arctos Functions: •Search, enter, update data

• Georeference and map localities

• Manage transactions (projects, loans, accns, permits)

• Track specimen citations (pubs, GenBank)

• Track collection objects (e.g., tissue vial barcoding)

• Link to external web resources

Who uses Arctos?

• Academics (students, postdocs, profs.)• Museum curators and researchers• Federal and state agencies• Non-government organizations• Environmental consultants• K-12 educators• Artists

Arctos development isguided by users

CuratorsData Managers

Researchers

http://arctos.database.museum/