Increasing accessibility and enhancing value of two university small vertebrate collections through digitization and online database publication

Natural history collections (NHCs) are widely considered to be an exceptionally valuable resource and a critical foundation for research. Of the thousands of collections maintained today, the majority are considered small with a local or taxonomic focus. Collaboration among smaller NHCs through online publication contributes a largely underutilized resource for collections-based research. Past digitization efforts have resulted in the mobilization of collections data that enhance their preexisting value without significant additional costs. With this project I digitized and published the mammal collection (2,525 records) and, separately, the ornithology collection (403 records). Upon publication these records are the only mammal and bird datasets from the state of Tennessee uploaded to the Consortium of Vertebrate Collections on Symbiota. Online accessibility of these collections increase their utility and provides feedback regarding the quality, usage, and distribution of our datasets to inform future management decisions and collection goals.