Rescuing an orphan: the re-curation of a historical marine zooplankton collection in Singapore

Abstract A collection of zooplankton specimens of unclear provenance was found in the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in Singapore and was re-curated as part of a space optimization exercise. A total of 3071 specimen vials representing 38 taxa were treated. These specimens were re-examined, re-identified, counted, and catalogued to increase traceability and accessibility. Crustaceans were generally well preserved, but other taxa (e.g. gastropods) showed some dissolution of calcified shells due to acidic preservative. Also, 11.6% of specimen vials were deemed non-viable and discarded. Viable specimens were transferred into new containers and fresh ethanol for long-term storage. Historical research determined that the specimens were collected as part of a larger, international project, the Co-operative Study of the Kuroshio and Adjacent Regions (CSK), conducted in 1969–1979. They were processed at the now-defunct Regional Marine Biological Centre, and indigenous material was retained in the then-University of Singapore and was eventually inherited by the LKCNHM. Detailed CSK reports were uncovered in the archives of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Central Library. The re-curated material is now complete with historical context and the supporting documentation. Thus rehabilitated, this collection can now be used for future research on the marine zooplankton of Singapore.