COLLECTIONS AND DATABASES
The natural history collections and databases maintained by Luomus are the memory of nature. They help us and future generations to understand both past and present. The extensive collections have been accumulated over more than 300 years. In the age of climate change and species loss, the collections and databases are more important than ever.
Luomus is responsible for preserving, accruing and maintaining Finland’s national collections in natural history. The Luomus collections include more than 13 million animal, plant, fungi, rock and fossil specimens. The collections and databases are used by researchers around the world.
Along with digitalisation, all specimens are registered and their information transferred to a database. The digitised specimens can be viewed at the Finnish Biodiversity Info Faculty (Laji.fi). The database offers climate change and species loss researchers a direct view of the numbers and habitats of various species over the course of centuries.
ALL ORGANISM GROUPS REPRESENTED IN THE COLLECTIONS
The collections of Luomus are unique both nationally and internationally. They cover more than half of all natural science collections in Finland. They encompass the whole globe, even though they are focused on Finland and the other cooler areas of the north. The collections are an invaluable resource for research. The biological collections cover all groups of organisms. The mycological, bryological and entomological collections are of international significance. Among the geological collections, the most important are the meteorite and Antarctica collections, while the Baltic fossils and the von Nordmann cave bear collection are the most important to paleontology.
GENOMIC RESOURCES COLLECTION
A national genomic resource collection was established in Luomus in 2019. At the end of 2020, the collection included 7 950 samples: 4 805 tissue samples and 3 145 DNA-samples. Over the past ten years, tissue samples have been collected from vertebrates delivered to Luomus. DNA has also been extracted from specimens that were produced during research projects and then deposited for potential further use. In addition, some DNA-extractions were specifically made for central groups of organisms such as pollinators. Thanks to HiLife infrastructure funding, all these samples were organized into a genomic resource collection. The samples can be viewed and loaned for scientific purpose via the Finnish Biodiversity Info Faculty. Luomus is part of the Global Genome Biodiversity Network and follows its international policies and standards.
LONG TIME SERIES
Apart from scientific collections, Luomus coordinates and preserves long-term data and national surveys, such as bird ringing and plant distribution data. The internationally unique, decades-old and growing database of bird observations, the bird ringing register and the distribution database of Finnish vascular plants are the most important observation data.