The Resources Inventory Committee (RIC) of British Columbia has a mandate to develop standardized procedures for inventory for provincial resources. Interest in, and demand for, information from biological inventory and research is at a high level for several important reasons. The documentation of biological diversity including the distribution and abundance of organisms (much of which is unknown), is considered a vital ethical and management task. Inventory information is critical to the requirements of Forest Renewal British Columbia (FRBC) and the Forest Practices Code that it supports, Protected Area Strategies, land-use planning, and management issues in general.
Museum collections of biological specimens are the fundamental reference material that documents the province's biological diversity. Such collections are essential for research in the science of systematics, which embraces classification, taxonomy, evolutionary relationships and evolutionary processes. Conserving biological diversity and ecological integrity in British Columbia is intimately connected to taxonomic knowledge. It is impossible to carry our biological inventories of threatened ecosystems such as coastal old-growth forests, southern interior grasslands or freshwater ponds and rivers, without being able to identify and name the distinctive and ecologically critical organisms that are present. Without such inventories of "name-able" organisms people cannot communicate, values of areas cannot be assessed, necessary research cannot be done, and management and protection plans cannot be developed. Natural history museums have the responsibility to develop well-documented field collections; to preserve them; to study them and to publish the results of research; to make them available for examination or loan; to serve as repositories for specimens and associated data; and to provide expert information on taxonomy, identification and distribution (Miller and Nagorsen 1992).
Because of the increased demand for biological information it is imperative that collection standards be established and accuracy in identification be encouraged. This manual presents a standard protocol for voucher specimens, a subset of inventory collections designed to ensure the reliability of the inventory.
During ecological, environmental and taxonomic studies, as well as basic species inventory, biological specimens are often collected and identified. These identifications are used in subsequent analyses and reports to come to certain conclusions. If these identifications are incorrect, false conclusions can be made. If results of future studies disagree with those of the initial study, the initial results can be verified only if representative specimens are available for reexamination. The information contained in these specimens is irreplaceable because we cannot go back in time and resample. Thus, it is imperative that in any inventory or study whose conclusions depend on the identification of biological specimens, provisions are made for the deposition of voucher specimens, preferably in a recognized museum with facilities for maintenance of biological collections (Green and Lambert 1994).
Voucher specimens are defined, and their importance is noted, by Miller and Nagorsen (1992). They "... are representative specimens that are collected in biological field surveys and research, and that are preserved to permit independent verification of results and to allow further study. The term "specimen" covers diverse materials such as photographs and tape recordings, but usually refers to more traditional preparations like skins, skulls, pressed plants or dead animals in preserving fluids... Many kinds of animals and plants that are of interest in environmental impact studies or biological surveys can only be reliably identified when they have been preserved as specimens. Without such voucher specimens it is impossible to independently verify an investigator's claims, it is impossible to re-evaluate the species present in a sample in light of changing knowledge and taxonomic revisions, and it is impossible to reliably make historical comparisons or true ecological changes over time due to environmental effects such as pollution or climate change".
Specific voucher collections (i.e. collections of one biological group from one project) are stored as discrete units for a designated time period. This allows easy access for verification of identifications or additional taxonomic examination. After the designated time has elapsed, museum curators select appropriate specimens from the voucher collection for permanent accessioning into the main reference (research) collections. These latter collections are arranged taxonomically. Therefore, in addition to the primary reasons for making voucher collections, any government supported inventory offers the opportunity for the growth and improvement of the provincial collection.
The voucher specimens, as part of the main collection, then become invaluable for other research such as studies on seasonal occurrence, distribution and biogeography, life history, and taxonomy. Biologists also have an ethical obligation to use fully any plants and animals that they collect, particularly if the species are uncommon or if they are from areas that are subsequently altered by human activity (Miller and Nagorsen 1992).
Responsibilities of museums are to provide curatorial, legal and technical advice on collecting, preserving, documenting and depositing voucher specimens. Arrangements with museums for training field investigators and for accepting voucher specimens should be planned early in a project so that training needs can be met and logistical considerations can be addressed. Museums must maintain voucher specimens in good condition and make them and their data readily accessible. Field investigators and collectors are responsible for properly sampling, preserving and documenting specimens as outlined in relevant protocols and for ensuring that satisfactory samples of collections are deposited in museums after a project is completed. Investigators should cross reference voucher specimens in all reports and publications.
This document should be considered a dynamic document as procedures and techniques change and improve. Note that this manual presents standard protocols for collecting plant and fungi vouchers only. Information on collecting and preparing animal vouchers is covered in manual No. 4a.
Investigators have an obligation to identify and assess the consequences of their research activities on wild animals, populations and the environment. Whenever possible, action should be taken to avoid, alleviate or minimize any adverse effects. Research activities should include the collection of adequate samples to ensure valid research results, yet be balanced to minimize adverse effects. Investigators should always weigh potential gain in knowledge against the negative consequences of disturbance. Although short-term detrimental effects may result from research activities, research can ultimately yield long-term positive effects for the affected population.
Investigators must also take into account that the sounds, the behaviours and the simple presence of humans as they approach and move closer to sensitive areas may elicit a response from animals. In addition, species that are not under study may be disturbed.
Depending on where the inventory survey takes place, one or more of the following may be required to access an area or to collect vouchers:
Two acts of legislation forbid collection in provincial parks and ecological reserves: The Park Act (Section 8, Park and Recreation Area Regulations, O.C. 867/90, Division 6, Section 32(1)) and the Ecological Reserve Act (Ecological Reserves Regulations, 335/75, Section 1).
The Park Act and Ecological Reserve Act both provide the legislation which clearly prohibits the collection and removal of all natural resources within the parks and ecological reserves. Violators are subject to prosecution under the terms of the regulations (fines) and the judgments held before the courts for charges submitted.
Collection and research may only occur under the authority granted and outlined in a Park Use Permit, Recreation Area Permit or Ecological Use Permit. Permits are issued by the various Park District offices through the province, upon application and review by District staff. The Resource Officer is normally the lead coordinator in reviewing and issuing new permits involving collection and research.
Note that the collection of some species of plants is restricted by law such as in the Trillium Dogwood Act of 1979. This Act covers three species: Trillium ovatum, Dogwood and Rhododendron macrophyllum.
Wildlife for which a possession permit from a Regional Manager or Wildlife Branch Director is required is that which is described in the Wildlife Act. Possession permits are issued pursuant to Section 19 of the WILDLIFE ACT, and BC Regulation 337/82, section 1(l). The authority for capture of wildlife comes under section 1(c) of the same regulation.
There is no prescribed application form for wildlife possession permits at this time. Written request for possession permits must be made to the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks' (MELP) Regional Manager. Requests for possession permits must provide the necessary details as to collectors' names, sampling period, locations to be sampled, gear types to be used, general purpose of the inventory, species, description, number, location of storage/display, and responsible institution/agency (who will be collecting what, where, when, why and how). Reference should be made to authority (permit) under which the wildlife was collected. Note: If wildlife (dead or alive) is to be exported out of British Columbia, a "BC Wildlife Export Permit for Live Wildlife (or Dead Wildlife, Parts or Derivatives)" must be obtained. Application forms are available from Regional Managers or the Wildlife Branch Director. Wildlife permits cover terrestrial vertebrates as well as sea otters, but do not include migratory birds.
Inventory personnel must be aware of health hazards associated with working with wild animals and chemicals used for preserving specimens. Ford and Tesch (1993) discuss some of these concerns. Although it is beyond the scope of this manual to cover these health hazards, below are some common sense precautions:
All personnel including project managers, crew leaders and any other persons who are independently collecting data on a provincially-funded species inventory project must have successfully completed the training course "Introduction to Wildlife Inventory" that is based on the Species Inventory Fundamentals manual (No. 1). This course, along with other species inventory courses, are offered through the British Columbia Forestry Continuing Studies Network (FCSN).