Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)

Virtual Museum of the Strickland Museum of Entomolgy

Felix A.H. Sperling

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9

The Strickland Museum of Entomology at the University of Alberta is developing a web-accessible database of its holdings, as well as species pages for many of the represented species. Although there are now many web-accessible museum databases in existence, and even more assemblages of species pages, this site is unique by integrating specimen data with more general species information. The collection and species data reside in Multi MIMSY 2000, an Oracle-based relational database management system. The University of Alberta Department of Museums and Collections (Jim Whittome and Victor Gatnicki) produced the site in collaboration with the Department of Biological Sciences (Felix Sperling and Danny Shpeley).

The Virtual Museum of Entomology site provides a number of tools for searching the Strickland Museum’s database. When “Search the Collection” is selected, the system defaults to the “Specimen Search”. This allows a search of the individual specimens in the collection and provides a link to the species information associated with each specimen. Alternatively, the “Species Search” allows a search of the species represented in the collection and provides a link to the specimen records of that species. In both cases, the search results can be plotted on an Alberta map (please note that this functionality only applies to specimens collected in Alberta.). Also available is a search tool based on the specimen’s Specimen/Sample Number, as well as a hierarchical search function that allows searches via taxonomic classification.

Species pages include images wherever possible, and may include multiple images per species (as is the case for many Cicindela). A graph is calculated for the seasonal distribution of the specimens recorded in the database, with only one increment on the histogram for any unique combination of locality plus date. As of February 2002, the database contains over 20,000 specimen records and over 300 species pages. Currently, the largest numbers of species pages are available for macrolepidoptera (by Gary Anweiler and Chris Schmidt), Trichoptera (by Andy Nimmo), and Coleoptera (Gerry Hilchie and Danny Shpeley). Species pages are avidly solicited from entomologists with expertise in particular taxonomic groups, and we have commitments for pages on grasshoppers (Dan Johnson), thrips (Bruce Heming) and stoneflies (Lloyd Dosdall), among others. Students in my Insect Taxonomy class also write a small number of species pages as term papers, and these will eventually be incorporated into the Virtual Museum after review by specialists. Anyone with entomological expertise who is willing to contribute species pages will be welcomed with open arms.

Search Functions:

Specimen Search
The specimen search is comprised of text boxes and radio buttons. All text boxes, with the exception of the text box for date range collected, allow for multiple values to be entered. A semi-colon must separate each value. Partial search terms may be entered into any text box. (e.g. astarte will return Boloria astarte). Date Range Collected: Enter a date range in the FROM and TO text boxes. Only 4 digit years may be entered. To search for specimens collected within a particular year, enter the same year into the FROM and TO text boxes.

Species Search
The species search is comprised of text boxes. All text boxes allow for multiple values to be entered but a semi-colon must separate each value. Partial search terms may be entered into any text box. (e.g. bor will return species with boreal habitats). Habitat: This field includes a freeform of major habitat associations of each species.

Diet Info: This field includes a freeform description of items that each species is known to eat.

Hierarchical Search
The Hierarchical Search is a resource for manipulating an indented tree view of the Linnaean classification system. Using a tree view of the classification allows the user to dig through the hierarchical layers. The hierarchy starts with Phylum Arthropoda. Click on the icons preceding the taxonomic names to open or close ranks in the hierarchy. Click on the taxonomic name to get listings for included specimens.

FastFind Search
Each object in the Strickland Museum has a unique Specimen/Sample Number. When searching for objects using the Specimen Search, the Specimen/Sample Number of any object(s) of interest can be recorded by the user. During the next visit to this site, the Specimen/Sample Number(s) can be entered to return quickly to specific object record(s). Up to six Specimen/Sample Numbers can be entered at one time using Fast Find. Example: UASM471.