Building Cultural Heritage Reference Collections from Social Media through Pooling Strategies: The Case of 2020’s Tensions Over Race and Heritage

Social networks constitute a valuable source for documenting heritage constitution processes or obtaining a real-time snapshot of a cultural heritage research topic. Many heritage researchers use social networks as a social thermometer to study these processes, creating, for this purpose, collections that constitute born-digital archives potentially reusable, searchable, and of interest to other researchers or citizens. However, retrieval and archiving techniques used in social networks within heritage studies are still semi-manual, being a time-consuming task and hindering the reproducibility, evaluation, and open-up of the collections created. By combining Information Retrieval strategies with emerging archival techniques, some of these weaknesses can be left behind. Specifically, pooling is a well-known Information Retrieval method to extract a sample of documents from an entire document set (posts in case of social network’s information), obtaining the most complete and unbiased set of relevant documents on a given topic. Using this approach, researchers could create a reference collection while avoiding annotating the entire corpus of documents or posts retrieved. This is especially useful in social media due to the large number of topics treated by the same user or in the same thread or post. We present a platform for applying pooling strategies combined with expert judgment to create cultural heritage reference collections from social networks in a customisable, reproducible, documented, and shareable way. The platform is validated by building a reference collection from a social network about the recent attacks on patrimonial entities motivated by anti-racist protests. This reference collection and the results obtained from its preliminary study are available for use. This real application has allowed us to validate the platform and the pooling strategies for creating reference collections in heritage studies from social networks.

Contribution to a reference library of DNA barcodes of Colombian freshwater fishes

The Barcode of Life initiative was originally motivated by the large number of species, taxonomic difficulties and the limited number of expert taxonomists. Colombia has 1,610 freshwater fish species and comprises the second largest diversity of this group in the world. As genetic information continues to be limited, we constructed a reference collection of DNA sequences of Colombian freshwater fishes deposited in the Ichthyology Collection of the University of Antioquia (CIUA), thus joining the multiple efforts that have been made in the country to contribute to the knowledge of genetic diversity in order to strengthen the inventories of biological collections and facilitate the solution of taxonomic issues in the future. This study contributes to the knowledge on the DNA barcodes and occurrence records of 96 species of Colombian freshwater fishes. Fifty-seven of the species represented in this dataset were already available in the Barcode Of Life Data System (BOLD System), while 39 correspond to new species to the BOLD System. Forty-nine specimens were collected in the Atrato River Basin and 708 in the Magdalena-Cauca asin during the period 2010-2020. Two species (Loricariichthys brunneus (Hancock, 1828) and Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846) are considered exotic to the Atrato, Cauca and Magdalena Basins and four species (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792), Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758), Parachromis friedrichsthalii (Heckel, 1840) and Xiphophorus helleri Heckel, 1848) are exotic to the Colombian hydrogeographic regions. All specimens are deposited in CIUA and have their DNA barcodes made publicly available in the BOLD online database. The geographical distribution dataset can be freely accessed through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Generalised Typesets in Experimental Ceramics: Widening Applicability and Maximizing Cross-cultural Assessments

Investigations tackling the production techniques used by ancient potters often rely upon experimental archaeology to clarify the relationship between surface morphology, surface topography, and the techniques, methods, and gestures used in the potting process. These experimental archaeology programmes focus on creating collections of experimental vessels to compare against archaeologicallyrecovered vessels, thus allowing production techniques to be identified. Often times, however, the typesets generated are designed to address a specific intersection of qualities; replica vessels adhere to a tight range of shapes, dimensions, paste recipes, and/or forming techniques. As such, the applicability of those typesets remains narrow and context-specific. How, then, can researchers tackle assemblages with diverse vessel types? Or contexts composed of competing potting traditions? Or contexts with significant proportions of vessels from many different origins? This paper presents a new approach to the way that experimental typesets are designed, developed specifically to address the problem of reliably identifying forming techniques across multiple assemblages. By focusing on accommodating common geometric possibilities of vessel shapes, a generalised typeset can allow individuals to make use of well-documented experimental data. The typeset for the Tracing the Potter’s Wheel project was designed for broad applicability, and has been made freely accessible as a reference collection. Through the creation of and comparison against a generalised typeset, heterogeneous assemblages can be better understood and resources can be directed toward answering specific questions. This paper presents the theoretical foundations supporting the concept of a generalised typeset, as well as the practice of using a generalised typeset for analysis.

Who Killed the Small Mammals of Ittenheim? An Integrative Approach and New Taphonomic Data for Investigating Bone Assemblages Accumulated by Small Carnivores

Small carnivores are susceptible to regularly accumulating small- to medium-sized mammal remains in both natural and archaeological sites. However, compared to nocturnal birds of prey, these accumulations are still poorly documented and are generally based on a limited number of samples, including those of relatively small size. Here, we present an analysis of European hamster remains from Ittenheim, which were recovered from an infilled burrow, 3m below the current surface. The remains are well preserved and exhibit large proportions of tooth marks. Comparisons with a new and existing reference collection combined with an analysis of all recovered faunal remains suggest the accumulation reflects the action of young red foxes. This is supported by the fact that, although these young individuals leave teeth mark, they do not necessarily consume all parts of medium-sized prey species, including the European hamster. Conversely, the remains of smaller rodents, such as microtine, show distinct patterns of digestion and tooth marks. Carnivore bone accumulations from scats are generally poorly preserved; however, our results demonstrate prey size plays a major role, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in skeletal representation, bone preservation, and bone surface modifications. The present paper underlines the need for more diversified taphonomic reference collections based on an integrative approach designed to evaluate multi-taxa accumulations.

Dietary niche breadth of endemic and introduced anurans (Amphibia: Anura) in Lombok, Lesser Sunda Islands– Indonesia

Anurans are important organisms as components of faunal community structure in ecosystems because of their roles as secondary and tertiary consumers in food webs. Anurans are opportunistic organisms that will consume any resources in their habitat. In this study, we dissected thirty-nine specimens of anurans from Museum Universitas Mataram (MUM) reference collection, it consists by three endemic (Ingerophrynus biporcatus, Limnonectes dammarmani and L. kadarsani) and one introduced species (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) of anurans. These reference collections were collected by authors during herpetofauna survey at Pusuk Forest, western Lombok in 2018. Based on stomach content analysis, both endemic and introduced anurans are generalist arthropod predators where hymenoptera, coleoptera, orthoptera and chilopoda are the most important food. In this study, we found positive correlations between body size and dietary niche breadth in which each anuran species has a high overlap of dietary niches. Anurans with large body size have a variety of prey than the small one.

Sabellariids (Annelida: Sedentaria: Sabellariidae) from shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, including three new species

The Sabellariidae has been scarcely studied in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and there are 18 species recorded out of 140 species known in the world. This work aims to improve the knowledge of the sabellariids in the northwestern tropical Atlantic region, provide standardized descriptions, and generate taxonomic identification keys. Sabellariids from three scientific collections were revised: Reference Collection of Laboratorio de Poliquetos, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Chetumal, Collection of Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático, ECOSUR, Campeche and Invertebrate Zoology Collection of Florida Natural History Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville. Three new species are described: Idanthyrsus bastidai n. sp. and I. mikeli n. sp. from Venezuela, and Sabellaria salazari n. sp. from the Yucatán Peninsula. In addition, new records of S. floridensis Hartman, 1944, S. vulgaris Verrill, 1873, and Phragmatopoma caudata Krøyer in Mörch, 1863 are provided.

Espectro de polen corbicular de Apis mellifera en muestras de Huejotitán, Jalisco, México

This study examines the different plants visited by the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) during the honey harvest season (August to November) 2012. The work consisted in identifying the corbicular pollen pellets collected by the bees in one apiary in the village of Huejotitan, municipality of Jocotepec, state of Jalisco, Mexico. Three hives were selected and sampled monthly by means of Ontario modified pollen traps. The samples were tagged and frozen and later processed by acetolysis technique to remove the exine; permanent glycerine slides were made for the preservation and analysis. Identification and counting of pollen grains was performed using an Olympus BH-2® upright microscope equipped with a 100X ocular micrometer to measure each individual species pollen grain, using immersion oil. Wild plants in bloom were also collected monthly, tagged, pressed and taken to the herbarium for identification; the pollen was extracted, processed and identified for a reference collection that served as an ancillary means of identification and as a seasonal reference to the blooming species. In the corbicular pollen, 23 types of plants were identified: 13 at species level, five at genus level and five at family level belonging to 17 plant families. Myrtaceae resulted the most frequently represented family followed by Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae.

DNA-based taxonomy of a mangrove-associated community of fishes in Southeast Asia

The Merbok Estuary comprises one of the largest remaining mangrove forests in Peninsular Malaysia. Its value is significant as it provides important services to local and global communities. It also offers a unique opportunity to study the structure and functioning of mangrove ecosystems. However, its biodiversity is still partially inventoried, limiting its research value. A recent checklist based on morphological examination, reported 138 fish species residing, frequenting or subject to entering the Merbok Estuary. In this work, we reassessed the fish diversity of the Merbok Estuary by DNA barcoding 350 specimens assignable to 134 species initially identified based on morphology. Our results consistently revealed the presence of 139 Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs). 123 of them are congruent with morphology-based species delimitation (one species = one MOTU). In two cases, two morphological species share the same MOTU (two species = one MOTU), while we unveiled cryptic diversity (i.e. COI-based genetic variability > 2%) within seven other species (one species = two MOTUs), calling for further taxonomic investigations. This study provides a comprehensive core-list of fish taxa in Merbok Estuary, demonstrating the advantages of combining morphological and molecular evidence to describe diverse but still poorly studied tropical fish communities. It also delivers a large DNA reference collection for brackish fishes occurring in this region which will facilitate further biodiversity-oriented research studies and management activities.

Diet of Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) in Andean forest

The Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) is a species which could potentially be evaluated as threatened, but data on its natural history in wild conditions are still insufficient. The diet in wildlife of C. hoffmanni was studied through of microhistological analysis of indigestible fragments of leaves found in 43 feces samples collected of the 47 samples found in an Andean forest reserve south of Bogotá, Colombia. Four samples were highly decomposed and were not collected. A reference collection was made of 29 tree species where the feces were found or two-toed sloth were observed, to compare with the plant fragments found in the feces. Seventeen species and six fragments of foliar epidermis of undetermined species were identified in sloth diet. Based on this analysis, C. hoffmanni is a generalist folivore, ingesting a wide variety of plant leaves. Based on frequency of occurrence, relative frequency, and percent cover by volume, Brunellia sibundoya, Cordia cylindrostachya, Citharexylum sp., Quercus humboldtii, and Clethra fagifolia made up most (74%) of the diet of C. hoffmanni in an Andean forest. Comparing the plant species found in the feces with the reference collection, C. hoffmanni appears to deposit feces at the base of the trees that it consumes.

DNA Barcoding of Portuguese Lacewings (Neuroptera) and Snakeflies (Raphidioptera) (Insecta, Neuropterida)

The orders Neuroptera and Raphidioptera include the species of insects known as lacewings and snakeflies, respectively. In Portugal, these groups account for over 100 species, some of which are very difficult to identify by morphological analysis. This work is the first to sample and DNA sequence lacewings and snakeflies of Portugal. A reference collection was built with captured specimens that were identified morphologically. DNA barcode sequences of 658 bp were obtained from 243 specimens of 54 species. The results showed that most species can be successfully identified through DNA barcoding, with the exception of seven species of Chrysopidae (Neuroptera). Additionally, the first published distribution data are presented for Portugal for the neuropterans Gymnocnemia variegata (Schneider, 1845) and Myrmecaelurus (Myrmecaelurus) trigrammus (Pallas, 1771).