National Paleontological Collection Ian Raine Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences
National Paleontological Collection Largest NZ paleontology collection Origin c. 1860 with Colonial Museum Later NZ Geological Survey, GNS Specimens collected in support of geological mapping coal and petroleum prospecting PGST, Marsden, thesis research Some bequests, gifts, purchases, orphans Type specimens, reference, and general
National Paleontological Collection + Hundreds of accessions per year + Thousands of specimens of modern reference material
National Paleontological Collection Uses Research and consultancy in: Taxonomy Paleobiology Biostratigraphy Geological mapping Subsurface stratigraphy for water, coal, hydrocarbons Paleoenvironments / paleoclimates Physical truth for observations Preserves scarce scientific resource Repository for type specimens (ICZN-ICBN)
National Paleontological Collection Information Release Research publications Species lists in Fossil Record database Loan of specimens General information on web site http://www.gns.cri.nz/what/earthhist/fossils/collpage.html
National Paleontological Collection Issues Macrofossil specimen preparation is time-consuming and not well-funded External users lack funding Many collection management records still paper-based Old collections need re-curation Reference collection needs databasing No recent catalogues of type material Status as national collection?