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 The Field Museum’s Mission:
Collections: The Backbone for Documenting Diversity
The Field Museum’s collections now total 22 million artifacts and specimens—one of the largest records of biodiversity in the world. At any one time, only one percent of these collections are on display for the public; the others are housed behind-the-scenes and are actively used for research purposes by scientists around the globe.
These collections form the backbone for nearly all of the Museum’s scientific endeavors—they help our scientist accurately identify and quickly respond to emerging dangers that threaten biodiversity.
Collections Help:
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Identify New Species: collected specimens distinguish known species from previously unknown species |
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Document Evolutionary Change: a series of collections reveal biological changes within a species |
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Protect Endangered Species and Habitats: comparing historical collections document population declines and changes in geographic range |
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The Field Museum’s Collections Count
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Mammals—175,000
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Birds—456,600
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Amphibians and Reptiles—277,000
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Fish—1.8 million
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Insects and Invertebrates—15 million
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Fungi—165,000
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Plants—2.5 million
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Our collections help identify new species.
Like an encyclopedia, our collections serve as a reference guide for species identification.
For example, scientists continually unearth unusual specimens while conducting field inventories and research. By comparing the appearance, behavior, habitat, and genetic make-up of a newly obtained specimen to one already contained in a Museum collection, scientists can determine whether an unusual specimen is truly new to science.
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 Our collections document evolutionary changes.
Like a catalog, our collections allow us to document the full range of variation in a particular species and visualize the history of life on earth.
One example of a particular species just won’t do; the Museum must keep a series of specimens on hand in order to understand how things like gender, geography, and habitat can alter the appearance of individual members within a particular group.
Moreover, species change over time. Having a series of specimens permits researchers to study evolution—the set of processes that shape the Earth’s biodiversity. A series also helps researchers examine the source and causes of variation between and within a species.
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Our collections help protect endangered species and habitats.
 Like a diary or scrapbook, our collections provide a snapshot of life over time in particular ecosystems so that we notice when things begin to decline or when invasive species begin to move into an area.
Consider that we possess specimens dating back to before the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. In many instances, our historic collections contain the only record of species that have now become extinct or have disappeared entirely from their native habitats.
Scientists compare modern species counts against these historic records to document changes or declines in biodiversity. This data, combined with research, guides the scientific protection of the wild landscapes where the specimens were collected. In fact, the work of Field Museum scientists has been instrumental in the establishment of several new national parks and wildlife refuges around the world.
As a result of Field Museum research, biodiversity across the globe is better understood and appreciated. Establishing this appreciation is critical for conservation.
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Introduction | Investigate Biodiversity | YBC | Meet the Scientist | Explore Global Diversity | Events and Programs | Take Action! | Teaching Biodiversity | Biodiversity Exhibition | Credits
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