Appendix H: Natural History Collections Page A. Overview. .......................................................................................................................................... H.1 What information can I find in this appendix?. ................................................................................... H:1 What are natural history collections?..... ............................................................................................ H:1 Why does the NPS collect and maintain natural history collections?. ............................................... H:2 Why are natural history collections important?. ................................................................................. H:2 What determines how NPS natural history collections are used?. .................................................... H:3 Where can I find further information on NPS natural history collections?.. ....................................... H:4 B. Natural History Collections.. ........................................................................................................... H:4 What kinds of specimens are commonly found in NPS natural history collections?. ........................ H:4 What characterizes NPS biological collections?. ............................................................................... H:5 Why are NPS biological collections important?.. ............................................................................... H:5 What kinds of specimens are found in NPS biological collections?. ................................................. H:6 What are some examples of NPS biological collections?. ................................................................ H:6 What characterizes NPS geological collections?.. ............................................................................ H:6 Why are NPS geological collections important?. ............................................................................... H:6 What kinds of specimens are found in NPS geological collections?... .............................................. H:7 What are some examples of NPS geological collections?. ............................................................... H:7 What characterizes NPS paleontological collections?. ...................................................................... H:7 What kinds of specimens are found in NPS paleontological collections?. ........................................ H:8 Why are NPS paleontology collections important?. ........................................................................... H:8 What are some examples of NPS paleontological collections?. ....................................................... H:9 C. Collecting Natural History Specimens… ....................................................................................... H:9 Who collects natural history specimens in the park?.. ....................................................................... H:9 What are some of the purposes for collecting?.. ............................................................................... H:9 Why is the long-term preservation of specimens important?... ......................................................... H:10 What has driven recent growth of NPS natural history collections?.. ................................................ H:10 What is the Inventory and Monitoring Program (I&M)?. .................................................................... H:10 What is an All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI)?.. ......................................................................... H:11 What is a BioBlitz?. ............................................................................................................................ H:12 Must all specimens in a collection be collected within park boundaries?. ......................................... H:12 What laws and regulations apply to collecting natural history specimens in parks?. ........................ H:13 Are there other laws or mandates that may require additional permits for collecting natural history specimens in parks?. .............................................................................. H:13 What are Threatened and Endangered species?. ............................................................................. H:14 Does the museum have to track living specimens?. ......................................................................... H:14 D. Natural History Collecting Permits.. .............................................................................................. H:14 How does the NPS authorize the collection of natural history specimens and determine their disposition?. ........................................................................................................... H:14 What does 36CFR2.5 require?. ......................................................................................................... H:15 What is the Research Permit and Reporting System (RPRS)?. ........................................................ H:15 What are the goals of the RPRS?...................................................................................................... H:15 Who is required to have a permit?. .................................................................................................... H:16 Must NPS employees use RPRS?. ................................................................................................... H:16 Where can I find the General Conditions for the Scientific Research and Collecting Permit?. ......... H:16 Can a park add additional conditions to a permit? ............................................................................ H:16 Page What issues should a curator consider when reviewing an application for a research permit?. ....... H:17 Who is responsible for curation costs?. ............................................................................................. H:18 What is benefits sharing? .................................................................................................................. H:19 What is a benefits-sharing agreement?... .......................................................................................... H:20 What if no specimens are collected?. ................................................................................................ H:20 How do parks handle permits for multi-park collecting projects?. ..................................................... H:20 E. Accessioning Natural History Collections. ................................................................................... H:21 Must I accession NPS natural history specimens into the park museum collection?. ....................... H:21 How do I accession natural history collections?. ............................................................................... H:21 When do I accession natural history collections?. ............................................................................. H:21 What information do I need for an accession?. ................................................................................. H:22 Can the NPS convey ownership of natural history collections from park lands?. ............................. H:23 May I exchange duplicate specimens?... ........................................................................................... H:23 Can I loan natural history specimens?............................................................................................... H:24 What procedures must I follow when loaning natural history collections?. ....................................... H:24 Can I deaccession natural history collections?. ................................................................................. H:24 What documentation is required for unaccessioned specimens consumed through analysis as part of the research project?.......................................................................... H:25 What documentation is required for cataloged specimens consumed through destructive analysis?. ...................................................................................................... H:25 F. Cataloging Natural History Collections. ........................................................................................ H:25 Where do I find procedures for cataloging natural history collections?. ............................................ H:25 Who is responsible for cataloging natural history collections?. ......................................................... H:25 Who pays for cataloging natural history collections?......................................................................... H:25 What materials for cataloging collections must I give to the collector?. ............................................ H:26 Must I use ICMS to catalog natural history collections?. ................................................................... H:26 What fields on the catalog record must the collector complete?. ...................................................... H:26 Who is responsible for cataloging the documentation associated with the specimens?. .................. H:27 Who is responsible for monitoring the accuracy of the records?. ...................................................... H:27 What documentation must the collector submit to you?.. .................................................................. H:28 Who prepares the natural history labels and marks the specimens?. ............................................... H:28 How do