Biological Collections
The ºÚÁÏÍø Biological Collections include approximately 55,000 preserved fish, birds, mammals, and plants. These organisms are preserved on archival paper, microscope slides, in alcohol, or as skeletons, skins, or taxidermied mounts.
Our collections are used for scientific research on environmental quality, conservation, species diversity, species relationships, animal behavior, development, and other topics. They are also used for laboratory instruction of ºÚÁÏÍø students and in educational displays for visitors.
Mission
To make the ºÚÁÏÍø curated collections data and specimens available to researchers and educators in the biological sciences.
Vision
Our collections are a storehouse of information and are most valuable when they are shared among researchers and educators in the greater biological sciences community. Over the next few years, we intend to improve the significance of our collections by bringing them up to modern curatorial standards and increasing their accessibility and visibility to the global community by providing digital access to data; and by continuing to acquire new, high quality specimens for both education and research.
The following contains information about each collection, how to request education visits to the collection, and how to make loan and information requests regarding the collection.
The bird collection has ~4,100 specimens preserved as study skins. Most specimens are Southern California birds, with a variety of non-local taxa represented by specimens from other United States regions, northwestern Mexico, zoos, and a few localities in continents and islands worldwide. A separately housed teaching collection is used for Vertebrate Zoology and Marine Biology classes.
Collection Catalog
Our Bird collection catalog and specimen data are available for search queries via the .
Educational Visits
University and local educational groups can schedule a visit to the teaching laboratory to learn about the diversity of species. Please contact the ºÚÁÏÍø Zoological Collections Manager at CNSM-Verts@csulb.edu for more information.
Loan and Information Requests
The ºÚÁÏÍø Zoological Collection provides loans of skins, skeletons, and fluid-preserved specimens from its collections for scientific research or education. Please contact the Zoological Collections Manager at CNSM-Verts@csulb.edu with any requests for specimen data, loans, or destructive sampling.
Please see the Loan Policy for additional information.
The fish collection has 2,300 lots containing 21,000 specimens preserved in isopropanol or ethanol. About half of the lots have locality and date data, and these are mainly from the marine waters of southern California, northeastern Mexico, and Mississippi, and the fresh waters of southern California. The remainder of the specimens lack detailed data and cover a worldwide array of taxa. A separately housed teaching collection is used for Vertebrate Zoology and Ichthyology courses.
Collection Catalog
Our Fish collection catalog and specimen data are available for search queries via the .
Educational Visits
University and local educational groups can schedule visits to the teaching laboratory to learn about the diversity of species. Please contact the ºÚÁÏÍø Zoological Collections Manager at CNSM-Verts@csulb.edu for more information.
Loan and Information Requests
The ºÚÁÏÍø Zoological Collection provides loans of skins, skeletons, and fluid-preserved specimens from its collections for scientific research or education. Please contact the Zoological Collections Manager at CNSM-Verts@csulb.edu with any requests for specimen data, loans, or destructive sampling.
Please see the Loan Policy for additional information.
The mammal collection has ~12,000 specimens preserved as study skins, skulls, skeletons, and fluid preprations. The vast majority of the specimens are regional, with a focus on rodents of Southern California, Utah, and northwestern Mexico. The collection includes vouchers from systematic and parasitological studies of ºÚÁÏÍø faculty. A separately housed teaching collection is used for Vertebrate Zoology, Mammalogy, and Introductory Biology classes.
Collection Catalog
Our Mammal collection catalog and specimen data are available for search queries via the .
Curator
Dr. Theodore Stankowich
Theodore.Stankowich@csulb.edu
562.985.4826
Stankowich Research Lab
Educational Visits
University and local educational groups can schedule visits to the teaching laboratory to learn about the diversity of species. Please contact the curator or the ºÚÁÏÍø Zoological Collections Manager at CNSM-Verts@csulb.edu for more information.
Loan and Information Requests
The ºÚÁÏÍø Zoological Collection provides loans of skins, skeletons, and fluid-preserved specimens from its collections for scientific research or education. Please contact the Zoological Collections Manager at CNSM-Verts@csulb.edu with any requests for specimen data, loans, or destructive sampling.
Please see the Loan Policy for additional information.
The herbarium has approximately 15,000 specimens preserved as dried, pressed specimens. We are a permanent scientific repository registered with and use the acronym LOB. We are also a member of the .
Nearly 70% of our specimens are Southern California native plants with a focus on Los Angeles County and Orange County. Fourteen percent of the specimens are from North Carolina. Important collections include former curator Phil Baker's North American specimens and Jim Shevock's vouchers for his M.A. thesis titled "A vascular flora of Lloyd Meadows Basin, Sequoia National Forest, Tulare County, California."
The collection is used in Introductory Biology, Plant Ecology, Plant Morphology, and Plant Systematics classes.
Collection Catalog
All databased records are available through the .
Curator
Dr. Amanda Fisher
562.985.4814
Amanda.Fisher@csulb.edu
Loan and Information Requests
Please contact the curator with any requests for specimen data, loans, or destructive sampling.
The herpetology collection has 600 lots containing 3,300 specimens preserved in isopropanol or ethanol and also includes a small number of taxidermy and skeletal specimens. The collection covers a worldwide array of taxa but lacks detailed data for many specimens. A separately housed teaching collection is used for Vertebrate Zoology and Herpetology courses.
Collection Catalog
Our Herp collection catalog and specimen data are available for search queries via the .
Loan and Information Requests
The ºÚÁÏÍø Zoological Collection provides loans of skins, skeletons, and fluid-preserved specimens from its collections for scientific research or education. Please contact the Zoological Collections Manager at CNSM-Verts@csulb.edu with any requests for specimen data, loans, or destructive sampling.
Please see the Loan Policy for additional information.
How to Donate Specimens
We accept donations of frozen or preserved vertebrates or plants which add to the diversity of animals and plants represented in the collections.
If you have an animal you would like to donate, please contact the department at biology@csulb.edu.
If you have a plant you would like to donate, please contact the plant collection curator, Dr. Amanda Fisher, at Amanda.Fisher@csulb.edu.
How to Volunteer
Collections volunteers can work with the vertebrate collections: birds, mammals, fishes, and plants. Volunteers will learn about a variety of aspects of collections management, including:
- knowledge of species diversity.
- specimen preparation and maintenance.
- paper and electronic data management.
- pest prevention.
- laboratory safety.
The availability of activities specific to certain kinds of animals can vary over time as projects change. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the department at biology@csulb.edu.
If you are interested in volunteering for the plant collection, please contact the plant collection curator, Dr. Amanda Fisher, at Amanda.Fisher@csulb.edu.
