Historical collections and changing aquatic faunas
Scientific museum collections are ideal tools for detecting long-term changes in biodiversity, especially if the specimens are well curated and accompanied by reliable documentation on locality and time of collecting (labels, catalogue). Some of the oldest natural history harbor samples that have been stored over more than 100 years.
At present such specimens can be important as reference material for historical studies of marine biota, especially in relation to the mortality and possible local extinction of coral reef species as an effect of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on global change.
Selected references
Hoeksema, B.W., (2009) Attached mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) in sediment-stressed reef conditions at Singapore, including a new species and a new record. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Suppl. 22: 81-90.
Meij, S.E.T. van der, R.G. Moolenbeek, B.W. Hoeksema (2009) Decline of the Jakarta Bay molluscan fauna linked to human impact. Marine Pollution Bulletin 59: 101-107.
Meij, S.E.T. van der, Suharsono & B.W. Hoeksema (2010) Long-term changes in coral assemblages under natural and anthropogenic stress in Jakarta Bay (1920-2005). Marine Pollution Bulletin 60: 1442-1454.
Oijen, M.J.P. van, G.M.P. Loots & F.J.G. Limburg (2009) - P. Bleeker. A precursor of the fishes of the Indian Archipelago. Part I - Siluri. Zoologische Mededelingen 83(1): 1-317.
Monday, August 23, 2010