Museum of Southwestern Biology

About

The Museum of Southwestern Biology is a research and teaching facility in the Biology Department at the University of New Mexico

Story

The University of New Mexico’s Museum of Southwestern Biology, through its world-class natural history collections, associated databases, and staff expertise, provides significant research infrastructure, meaningful undergraduate experiences, cutting-edge graduate training, and substantial public-service and outreach.

Mission

The Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) documents, acts as a repository for, and interprets biological diversity in order to increase and disseminate knowledge of our natural environment.

History

The MSB, a University operated and bound museum, conducts original research of national and international significance on the systematics, ecology, and life history of vertebrates, plants, and invertebrates. The MSB services the national and international scientific community by providing identifications, information, and research access to the collections and associated records under its care.

The collections of plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates were housed in Castetter Hall of the University of New Mexico (UNM) and originated from the collecting efforts of Edward F. Castetter beginning in 1928. The Museum moved into the CERIA building in 2001. Formal management and maintenance of collections began in 1936 when William J. Koster joined the UNM faculty. He instituted the museum tradition whereby the Museum eventually formed into several divisions over the next few decades. We now have eight divisions including Arthropods, Amphibians and Reptiles, Birds, Fishes, Genomic Resources, Mammals, Parasites, the Herbarium and Natural Heritage New Mexico.

A recent addition to the MSB is the relocation of the Western Biological Survey Collections of the Midcontinent Ecological Science Center of the National Biological Services (NBS). The collection includes over 40,000 voucher specimens of vertebrates, many of which are from federal lands in the western United States.

Future Directions and Collections Considerations

The MSB will continue efforts to improve its ability to beter achieve its mission. Directions for the immediate future include the improvement of information transfer via electronic enhancements and increased ability to address scientific questions across a variety of disciplines. Further integration of research and teaching will continue, as will outreach to the private sector.