Development of the IPI Specimen Archive for Insect Biodiversity Research

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The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs awarded a contract to The University of Edinburgh for the development of the IPI specimen archive.

The contractor aimed to establish an insect biodiversity archive to preserve 50,000 specimens collected during research funded under the UK Insect Pollinators initiative (IPI) and make these available for future research.

Based on PI estimates of the proportions of each IPI grant budget spent on collection, preparation, identification, and data entry, the contractor estimated the value of the IPI specimens to be £3 million, 30% of the IPI budget.

The proposed archive would represent a unique internationally significant resource for research into insect biodiversity, and pollinators specifically, and provide highly-resolved baseline sampling for tracking of changes in populations and diversity through time.

Preserving this one-off resource requires moving quickly to minimise degradation of the dry-pinned specimens that make up most of the archive material – both through dissipation of specimens due to lack of appropriate storage space, and degradation of key biological molecules (such as DNA and pesticide residues).

The archive specimens will be cryopreserved at -80°C and managed in perpetuity by the Natural History Museum, London (NHM), who will provide equipment and ongoing costs.

This proposal will therefore help to secure the legacy of the IPI and maximise future research and policy impact.

The contract value was AUD 44,994.