Making specimens and associated data available according to the FAIR principles (findable – accessible – interoperable – reusable) enables biodiversity research. Hence, one focus for research projects in the W cryptogam collection is their digitisation, and by default their organisation. This is the basis for in-house and external taxonomic research of a collection rich in historical and original material, especially specimens from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, and particularly types. Except for selected types, few of the estimated 1.5 mio specimens of the W cryptogam collection have been digitised to date. Currently, we are working on serving online those collections requested most by external researchers: 1) the Grunow diatom and 2) the Lindenberg liverwort collections. Digitised data are available via the online portal JACQ (https://www.jacq.org/#database). Both projects are works in progress and will take time as scant resources allow.
 
Digitisation of the Grunow collection (diatoms)
Approximately 3,000 taxon names are attributed to the phycologist Albert Grunow (1826 – 1914). He deposited his collection of diatoms and macroalgae, mainly Sargassum, at W in 1899. Grunow’s diatom collection, his ‘Herbar’, formed the basis of the general diatom collection at W, but there are many additional parts to this complex collection. It contains several different object types, such as unmounted material and herbarium specimens in capsules, fossil samples in historical pill boxes, a catalogue listing the samples he worked with, slides (historical and current preparations) for microscopy, drawings done by Grunow, and books annotated by him including sample numbers for his illustrations. The catalogue, drawings, and annotated books are important for locating type and original material. The parts of the collection are organised according to several different numbering systems or alphabetical by family, genus, and species in the general collection (see Schuster et al. 2022, 2023 in the ‘Publications’ tab for more detailed information). Grunow’s catalogue lists 3,278 sample numbers, ca 1,400 of his slides are still extant, and there are ca 15,000 drawings.
 
Due to the size and complexity of the collection, we are tackling digitisation of the different parts step by step. As Grunow’s drawings are the basis for his descriptions and note the sample numbers he used and other salient details, the drawing collection is the first portion to be digitised. A first step is QR-coding, i.e. assignment of a unique, stable identifier, followed by imaging and transcription of all taxon names on folders in Grunow’s drawing collection. This forms the taxonomic backbone for entering any other data in JACQ. Further steps are the QR-coding and imaging of each sheet with drawings. Next steps are the transcription of the catalogue pages, which have been imaged. The slides will eventually also be imaged to document which are still available, their preparation type (air mount with shellac, Canada balsam, etc.) and preservation state, and the label information, even if scant. Digitisation of the general collection and still available unmounted material are to follow.
 
Digitisation of the Lindenberg collection (liverworts)
Johann B.W. Lindenberg (1781–1851) specialised in bryophytes and his liverwort collection at W is particularly noteworthy. Together with K.M. Gottsche and C.G.D. Nees von Esenbeck, he published ‘Synopsis Hepaticarum’ (1844-1847), still one of the most relevant texts for liverwort taxonomy. The collection at W was the basis for this publication and is particularly important as Lindenberg’s collection deposited at B was destroyed during WWII. The collection incorporates specimens from many other important historical bryophyte specialists and includes many types and original material. Lindenberg’s object catalogue, i.e. the list of specimens bought in 1860 by the Botanisches Hofcabinet, the forerunner of the Botany Department at the Natural History Museum Vienna, includes 9,089 inventoried specimens, most of which we have been able to locate.
 
In order to digitise the collection, we had to locate Lindenberg’s specimens among all others in the type and general liverwort collections at W. To facilitate digitisation, the specimens are being QR-coded, i.e. receive a stable, unique identifier, which are subsequently to be used for citation in publications. A portion of specimens that contained multiples of initial inventory numbers (series) in a single capsule undergo additional physical preparatory steps (e.g. https://w.jacq.org/W0260455). The initial inventory number was assigned upon purchase of the collection and is in print sometimes referred to as ‘Lindenberg’ or ‘Hofcabinet’ number. Databasing the Lindenberg collection also required a significant effort in adding taxon names in JACQ to create the taxonomic backbone necessary for subsequent data entry. As part of the digitisation process, the specimens are imaged for documentation and to enable label entry from a digital twin of the physical specimen. During a first pass, basic data points are entered into the database for all ca 9,000 specimens. These include the initial inventory number, QR code, and taxon name. Note that the latter denotes the name where the specimen is filed physically, i.e. it is not necessarily the currently accepted name; for types this is the basionym. Data entry of all label data will be fleshed out as particular specimens are required for publication and as resources allow.  
 
Note to external researchers requesting (digitisation of) specimens:
As the projects above hint, accomplishing any specimen-based research requires several collection management and digitisation steps, as detailed below. Be aware, that all W specimens require these steps to document them and make them citation-ready via QR-codes, as previously used accession or acquisition numbers are now obsolete. As the collection is large and complex, it is time-consuming to search physically. Therefore, please plan well ahead and contact us as early as possible to be able to cover these necessary steps. Please consider requesting funding during relevant grant applications for this work to be undertaken, including visits to the collection on your part, as resources at W are limited:
 

1. Locating specimens: This is not as trivial as one might assume. Specimens may be field under any and/or multiple synonym(s), and the herbarium is not ordered according to geographic regions. In addition, the collection is mainly from the 19^th and 20^th centuries and global in scope. Reading a multitude of handwritten labels in wildly differing, antiquated script and with potentially long obsolete placenames is a major time-consuming step for finding specimens and digitising the label data.
2. Collection management and specimen preparation, overhauling specimens: This refers to the physical preparation of specimens according to accepted community standards, such as putting specimens in protective capsules or folders, or mounting onto card to protect them. As it is an old collection, many specimens need to be updated such.
3. Collection management and specimen preparation, QR codes: Affixing of a human and machine readable QR code label to each specimen element. As of January 2020, the QR code is the herbarium accession number and stable, unique identifier for W specimens necessary for citation. Note that previous acquisition numbers in the form of a stamped four-digit year plus a running number are now obsolete and should not be cited. The stable, unique identifier for a particular specimen can also be cited as URL for linking to JACQ from publications. The URL is the first line shown in the JACQ output page and always begins with https://w.jacq.org/W and ends with the QR code number.
4. Digitisation, adding names to the database (JACQ): Establishing any relevant names (family, genus, species, variety, basionym, synonyms, etc.) that have to be added to the taxonomic backbone of the JACQ database in order to enter any other specimen data. This includes taxon-specific stable, unique identifiers, as used in AlgaeBase, DiatomBase, Mycobank, Tropicos, etc. Entering of collector(s) and taxon author(s) and combinations thereof. Also, inclusion of nomenclatural information (e.g. type and synonym status, which may need to be evaluated using the primary literature) in JACQ. As relatively few cryptogams are digitised, many names still need to be added on an ongoing basis.
5. Digitisation, label and annotation data: This encompasses entry of collector(s), their number, collection date, and collection locality among other data, such as series numbers of exsiccata, information on annotation labels, identification history, noting who did the typification, and other relevant information. It can be time-consuming to decipher difficult to read label data and abbreviations in a huge variety of historical script.
6. Digitisation, georeferencing: Although locality data are often scant for historical specimens, they are nonetheless important for identifying type and typoid material. Deciphering archaic and idiosyncratic script and unfamiliar or obsolete place names and reference to dated (country) boundaries can make this task challenging. In addition, there is no geographic grouping for specimens kept at W.
7. Digitisation, high-resolution specimen photos: Although it can be argued that such images are not as relevant for cryptogams, as few of the characters necessary for identification are visible, we argue that seeing the label, condition, and amount of a specimen is valuable information, and therefore include images. This also documents specimens before releasing them through physical loans for study.

EMPOLYMENT

ACADEMIC EDUCATION

• Collections-based research.
• Taxonomic work on diatoms, focussing on the Grunow collection (W) and cross-linking multiple institutions.
• Evolution of angiosperms using molecular and morphological data for phylogeny reconstruction of Polygonaceae, Coriariaceae, Ericaceae, and Myrtaceae (Angophora and Corymbia).
• Comparative genomics using High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) data.
• Invasive Polygonaceae (Reynoutria [Fallopia], Koenigia [Aconogonon]).
• Polygonaceae as host plants of fungi.
• Southern Hemisphere biogeography.