The Invertebrate Zoology Collection at the University of Kansas (KU) Biodiversity Institute is one of KU’s smaller collections, with just over 2,000 lots. Its taxonomic strength are hexacorallians (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from across the globe. Holdings also include earthworms primarily from Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, as well as crayfish and molluscs from the United States, notably from Kansas. The collection has seen little loan activity over the past decade, in part due to the fact that collection records are not digitally available. Moreover, the collection has been virtually untouched for several years as research activities on hexacorallians has ceased following curator retirement. In an initial inventory, physical holdings were checked against original catalog data, while simultaneously re-curating to ensure proper storage containers and maximal levels of either ethanol or formalin. Preliminary comparison of the catalogued data with original and secondary label data housed with the specimens suggest that across these sources, the captured and entered data is somewhat inconsistent and incomplete. In an attempt to remedy such issues, the next phase of the project will involve digitally capturing label data to verify collection information. Once the data has been validated, the working data in spreadsheet format will be imported into Specify, and published to a list of aggregators including Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio), Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON), and Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), for visibility and use outside of KU. The hope through such efforts is an accessible and easily searchable collection that is properly preserved for future research.
