Roadmap to set up reference collections

Abstract

The role of natural history collection as reference collection for research purposes and as benchmark collection for additional identification is highlighted and their stakeholders indicated. The identification process and its challenges are explained. Important features that determine the quality of both physical and virtual reference and benchmark collections are discussed. Several categories of measures to improve the quality of both physical and virtual collections and thereby optimising their use are reviewed and summarised in a set of recommendations.

Authors 2

1. Luc Willemse corresponding Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands

2. Hanna Laakkonen
   Affiliation as printed

   LUOMUS, Helsinki, Finland