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The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology within the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is helping lead a national effort to transform how scientists access and use biodiversity data by digitizing tens of thousands of mammal specimens from its Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections.

The work is part of the Ranges Digitization Network, a consortium of 23 natural history collections across the U.S. dedicated to digitizing, standardizing and sharing trait data for terrestrial mammals.

The consortium members house millions of specimens that represent the diversity of animal life across time and space. The four-year project is in its second year, and its progress and findings were recently published in the .

Over the past three decades, digitization has revolutionized access to natural history collections, allowing researchers to connect data globally and gain new insights into ecology, evolution and conservation. However, critical details—such as morphological, reproductive and life history traits—are often absent from digital records.

"Natural history collections are the foundation of biodiversity science, and unlocking this missing data is the next frontier," said Jessica Light, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, curator of mammals at the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, and a co-investigator on the project.

"By adding trait data to digital specimen records, we can build richer baselines for mammals in North America, contextualize biodiversity change and strengthen the scientific foundation for conservation decisions."

Digitization broadens scientific impact

The Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections serves as one of the nation's most significant repositories of mammal, bird, fish, marine invertebrates, and amphibian and reptile specimens. These collections anchor several decades of research and student training in biodiversity science on the Texas A&M University campus with global research communities, all working together to further biodiversity science.

Light and her team are digitizing trait data for approximately 50,000 specimens in the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, representing species from the western parts of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Many of these records include handwritten notes—some dating back more than a century—documenting physical characteristics, reproductive traits and life history details.

"These details add incredible scientific value," she said. "By digitizing them, we're making information that once was only accessible in-person available to researchers and educators worldwide."

Texas A&M's contributions will help the Ranges consortium create trait standards and workflows that can eventually be expanded to other collections worldwide. Light also brings strong biodiversity informatics, mammal systematics and student training components to the project, ensuring the data is accurate, accessible and impactful.

Biodiversity collections shape science

The Ranges consortium represents a critical infrastructure investment for biological and ecological sciences and policy, especially as climate variability and land-use changes impact habitats and species distributions.

More complete datasets will help scientists better track population shifts, reproductive timing and morphological responses to changes, while providing essential data and evidence to inform management strategies and conservation initiatives globally.

"Texas A&M has a long tradition of excellence in mammalogy," Light said. "Our participation in Ranges ensures that we are part of shaping the future of collections-based research, while also training the next generation of scientists who will rely on these data."