Collection Data

Page Contents: Section | Significance | Background | Location & Dates | Taxonomic Contents | Documentation | Description of Collection | Collection Inventory | Collection Assets

Phoenix Islands 2002

Section Responsible for Processing

MBC

Significance

The strength of the Crustacea Division of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County lies in its collection of Eastern Pacific fauna. However, we also seek opportunities to further enhance our collections in the Western Pacific and Indo-Pacific. The materials collected and returned to the museum from the Phoenix Islands will allow researchers access to comparative specimens from this area of the Pacific Ocean.

Background

In 2000, the New England Aquarium funded a ten-day expedition (the Phoenix Rising Expedition) to create a baseline study of the fauna from various islands of the Phoenix Island Group, Kiribati. The materials in the current collection were returned from a follow-up expedition to the same area in 2002.

Collection Location and Dates

The Phoenix Islands, lie to the north, northeast of Fiji and the Samoa Islands in the Central-Southern Pacific Ocean. Materials were collected from both windward and leeward reef atolls off of and around the following islands: Nikumaroro, Manra, Phoenix, Kanton, Enderbury, Birnie, and Orona Islands. Collecting and research were done from 10 June – 5 July, 2002.

Taxonomic Contents

The materials returned to the Crustacea Division have been processed into two major groups consisting of crabs (50%) and shrimps (50%). At this time, most identification (with one or two exceptions) is only to infraorder.

Documentation

Collection data, including site maps, and data lists are kept in the file drawers of the Crustacea Division.

Description of Collection

This collection is currently housed as a separate group (for ease of access for future identification and research) in the Department’s collection room. The specimens are preserved in 70% ethanol. Original preservation is indicated on the specimen label when known.

Collection Inventory

This collection consists of 43 lots of crabs and shrimps. They have been incorporated into the Crustacea Collection, i.e., taxonomically dispersed appropriately.

Collection Assets

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Curatorial Status (Click to view)