CCBER Vertebrate Data in GBIF
The Cheadle Center is featured in the latest newsletter of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). CCBER's 24,500 newly databased records of amphibians, birds and mammals are now searchable through the GBIF data portal, thanks to the hard work of the VertNet staff who provided our records. GBIF "provides a single point of access ...
CCBER Vertebrate Collections Now Digitized
We are happy to announce that CCBER’s vertebrate collections are now completely digitized. This achievement is the result of the focused efforts of Curatorial Assistant Mireia Beas-Moix and several UCSB student curatorial interns. Databasing the collections began in earnest in 2009 by several curatorial interns. After receiving an IMLS Museums for America grant in fall 2010, we were able to hire Beas-Moix who finished the cataloging and databasing of over 31,000 specimens ahead of schedule—an amazing feat, considering she was hired late in the 2-year grant period.
Herbarium News
The effort to database all of our California specimens and upload them to the Consortium of California Herbaria (CCH) federated database continues in full swing with over 12,870 vascular plant records added to our in-house Specify database and CCH since 2011. Herbarium Assistant Veronica Ortega has worked part time for the past year and a half to enter the specimen label data. She was assisted by Environmental Studies major Lindsey Bennett who worked fall and winter quarters, and she is now working with Emily Helsley, an Environmental Studies student.
Herbarium Publications Online
The UCSB Herbarium Publication series, started in 1981 and published by the Department of Biological Sciences, consists of six regional floras that include sites in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Mono counties. They have been digitally scanned and are now available online in the Biodiversity Heritage Library. The Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration was lucky to get in the BHL scanning queue, and now our Herbarium Publications, which have long been out of print, are online.
CCBER Says Goodbye to Heather Liu
Heather Liu, Administrative Assistant, is leaving CCBER this March after her job comes to an end. Heather has worn many hats at CCBER since 2008, first as a student volunteer and research intern, then as Herbarium Assistant, and now as Administrative Assistant to Director Jennifer Thorsch.
Haller Pine Herbarium Dedication
Over 50 people recently attended a festive reception in honor of Emeritas faculty Dr. Bob Haller and his over 60 years of research on pines from western North America. CCBER’s herbarium II was officially renamed the J.R. Haller Pine Collection Herbarium and has been dedicated to housing his collection of 5,000 specimens.
Award-winning KIN Program Funded for Another Year
The Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration has just received a $7,500 grant from SoCalGas to support the Kids in Nature (KIN) program in 2013. KIN is an innovative and highly regarded program designed to enrich the learning experiences of underrepresented and underserved youth in our community. KIN is designed to provide each participating 5th grade classroom with a total of twelve educational activities with linkages to our partners--the Marine Science Institute’s REEF program, Coal Oil Point Reserve, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and Arroyo Hondo Preserve.
New Field Guides Available from CCBER
Kids in Nature
The Kids in Nature program (KIN) has been awarded the 2007 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) in the category of Children's Environmental Education.
CCBER Plant Book
The third edition of Native Plants & Habitats of the UCSB Campus was released in June of 2006. The book was produced by the CCBER staff and features seven habitats and 57 plants that can be found on the UCSB campus. It is a great resource for anyone interested in learning California native plants. To order, please contact Jennifer Thorsch.
