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THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION 
How SHOULD BRYOPHYTE SPECIMENS BE SENT TO HERBARIA 
OR TO OTHER BRYOLOGISTS AS GIFT FOR DETERMINATION? 
Once specimens are completely dry, packets (with either a draft or final label) can be mailed 
at any time. A few dried specimen packets can be placed on a sheet of recycled photocopy paper 
and wrapped like a small package, using tape to secure the ends. These samples can then be placed 
in either a padded envelope or a cardboard box for shipment in the mail. If you seek a determina¬ 
tion or confirmation of one or more of your bryophyte collections, contact the bryologist before 
sending any specimens to ensure that person is willing to take the time to examine them on your 
behalf. Clearly state if the specimens being sent are a ‘gift for determination’. Many bryologists 
will not accept specimens for identification without a draft label attached with the specimen and 
most are going to want to keep the samples sent for their herbarium m exchange for providing this 
identification service. Be advised that several countries have special procedures and import forms 
in order to receive dried plant materials through the mail. 
Developing a species list 
All inventories should clearly state how the species lists were developed. Is the species list 
based on a literature review, based on existing herbarium specimens, or were additional collections 
also obtained by the project? These data provide a foundation to assess the quality and complete¬ 
ness of any inventory. All species should be referenced based on literature citation, specimen col¬ 
lection, or field observation. This is especially important in the computer age because once data (as 
a species checklist) are in electronic formats they can all appear as if of equal quality. 
Professional responsibilities while conducting foreign expeditions 
With the use of internet, it is much easier today to stay in professional contact with scientists 
around the world and develop new partnerships and collaborative ventures. Both the bryological 
literature and specimens in major herbaria are widely scattered around the globe. It is critical that 
collaboration occurs and efforts spent on various components of biodiversity can be integrated. 
Many countries, as a condition of granting collecting permits, require duplicate specimens to be 
deposited in a herbarium in the country of origin. Sometimes, this arrangement may be simplified 
by providing a synoptic set. Unfortunately for bryophytes, it is considerably more difficult to divide 
collections into duplicate sets without the aid of a dissecting microscope. This work usually needs 
to be done in the lab, versus in the field. If all of the specimens obtained by a foreign scientist are 
initially taken out of the country then that scientist has a professional responsibility to return as 
soon as possible a complete duplicate set of specimens (with at least draft labels for each collec¬ 
tion) to the host country institution and then provide final labels as specimens are identified. 
Collaboration can occur on several fronts from assisting with the actual field work to offering 
species identification and associated molecular services. Publications are also more likely today to 
have co-authors residing in different countries. These professional associations should be encour¬ 
aged and strengthened through biodiversity inventoiy efforts. There are wonderftil opportunities to 
continue bryophyte collecting throughout the Philippmes with the goal of enhancing and expand¬ 
ing the species diversity within local herbaria. However, specimens need to be gathered and sub¬ 
sequently processed in such a way as the data and the actual voucher specimens are readily avail¬ 
able to the scientific community. 
