Search for a command to run...
An herbarium must have its specimens processed, identified and accessioned so that members of the botanical community can readily consult these materials. However, many herbaria struggle to keep up with the influx of specimens and accumulate a backlog of unaccessioned specimens. In this study, we surveyed herbarium staff about their institution’s specimen backlog, focusing on the number and taxonomic lineage of backlogged specimens as well as the challenges associated with specimen curation. Based on responses from staff members at 65 herbaria, we calculated an average of 30,372 unaccessioned specimens per herbarium across all plant and fungal taxa. According to Index Herbariorum, there were 3,426 active herbaria in 2020 and, thus, we estimate at least 104 million specimens are present in herbarium backlogs worldwide. We also asked specific questions about unaccessioned bryophyte specimens in order to explore these collections in depth. While bryophytes represent only 9.0% of the accessioned specimens reported in our survey, they are overrepresented in the specimen backlog (16.0%). More than half of the bryophyte backlog is stored in field packets without labels and approximately three-quarters of these unaccessioned bryophytes lack species level identifications. Obstacles to backlog accessioning include labour shortages, insufficient bryological expertise and challenges integrating partially curated materials. Drawing on our survey responses, we offer strategies for reducing backlogs, such as accessioning straightforward specimens first and organising backlogs according to tasks leading to accessioning.