Valuing the unseen: challenges of regional biological collections in university departments across the global south

Abstract Biological collections housed within university departments represent crucial, yet often underrecognized, repositories of biodiversity data, particularly in developing nations where institutional support is limited. This study assesses the scientific impact and challenges facing the Rede de Coleções Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Sergipe (RCB-UFS), a regional assemblage that documents both extinct and extant flora, funga, and fauna of the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Through a bibliometric analysis of 1454 publications and training programmes linked to RCB-UFS curators, we found that 30% used collection data, with peak research productivity occurring between 2013 and 2014. However, a decline in activities after 2018 corresponds to reduced funding and inadequate storage conditions, jeopardizing the integrity of specimens. Notably, only the Herbarium (ASE) and Fungus Collection (ISE) are fully digitized, whereas other collections continue to rely on outdated methods, hindering accessibility. Significant gaps in Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) records for locally common species highlight systemic failures in data mobilization, even within national museums. We emphasize the urgency of institutionalizing departmental collections, adopting digital tools (e.g. Specify), and aligning efforts with global biodiversity networks [GBIF and the Sistema de Informação sobre a Biodiversidade Brasileira (SiBBr)] to ensure preservation and compliance with findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) principles. Despite resource constraints, these collections are indispensable for research, teaching, outreach activities, and conservation efforts. This underscores the necessity for policy reforms and sustained investment in the biodiversity infrastructure of Brazil.