Museomics Provides Insights into Conservation and Education: The Instance of an African Lion Specimen from the Museum of Zoology “Pietro Doderlein”
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Museomics Provides Insights into Conservation and Education : The Instance of an African Lion Specimen from the Museum of Zoology “Pietro Doderlein”. / Cilli, Elisabetta; Fontani, Francesco; Ciucani, Marta Maria; Pizzuto, Marcella; Di Benedetto, Pierangelo; De Fanti, Sara; Mignani, Thomas; Bini, Carla; Iacovera, Rocco; Pelotti, Susi; Spadola, Filippo; Luiselli, Donata; Lo Brutto, Sabrina.
In: Diversity, Vol. 15, No. 1, 87, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Museomics Provides Insights into Conservation and Education
T2 - The Instance of an African Lion Specimen from the Museum of Zoology “Pietro Doderlein”
AU - Cilli, Elisabetta
AU - Fontani, Francesco
AU - Ciucani, Marta Maria
AU - Pizzuto, Marcella
AU - Di Benedetto, Pierangelo
AU - De Fanti, Sara
AU - Mignani, Thomas
AU - Bini, Carla
AU - Iacovera, Rocco
AU - Pelotti, Susi
AU - Spadola, Filippo
AU - Luiselli, Donata
AU - Lo Brutto, Sabrina
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Innovative technological approaches are crucial to enhance naturalistic museum collections and develop information repositories of relevant interest to science, such as threatened animal taxa. In this context, museomics is an emerging discipline that provides a novel approach to the enhancement and exploitation of these collections. In the present study, the discovery of a neglected lion skeleton in the Museum of Zoology “Pietro Doderlein” of the University of Palermo (Italy) offered the opportunity to undertake a multidisciplinary project. The aims of the study consisted of the following: (i) adding useful information for museographic strategies, (ii) obtaining a new genetic data repository from a vulnerable species, (iii) strengthening public awareness of wildlife conservation, and (iv) sharing new learning material. The remains of the lion were examined with a preliminary osteological survey, then they were restored by means of 3D printing of missing skeletal fragments. Phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b sequence clearly indicate that the specimen belongs to the Central Africa mitochondrial clade. At the end of the study, the complete and restored skeleton was exhibited, along with all of the information and data available from this project. This study shows a useful approach for the restoration and enhancement of a museum specimen, with important opportunities for preserving biodiversity and driving specific conservation policies, but also for providing Life Science learning material.
AB - Innovative technological approaches are crucial to enhance naturalistic museum collections and develop information repositories of relevant interest to science, such as threatened animal taxa. In this context, museomics is an emerging discipline that provides a novel approach to the enhancement and exploitation of these collections. In the present study, the discovery of a neglected lion skeleton in the Museum of Zoology “Pietro Doderlein” of the University of Palermo (Italy) offered the opportunity to undertake a multidisciplinary project. The aims of the study consisted of the following: (i) adding useful information for museographic strategies, (ii) obtaining a new genetic data repository from a vulnerable species, (iii) strengthening public awareness of wildlife conservation, and (iv) sharing new learning material. The remains of the lion were examined with a preliminary osteological survey, then they were restored by means of 3D printing of missing skeletal fragments. Phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b sequence clearly indicate that the specimen belongs to the Central Africa mitochondrial clade. At the end of the study, the complete and restored skeleton was exhibited, along with all of the information and data available from this project. This study shows a useful approach for the restoration and enhancement of a museum specimen, with important opportunities for preserving biodiversity and driving specific conservation policies, but also for providing Life Science learning material.
KW - ancient DNA
KW - biodiversity
KW - conservation
KW - digital restoration
KW - education
KW - lion
KW - museomics
KW - museum collections
KW - Panthera leo leo
KW - phylogeography
U2 - 10.3390/d15010087
DO - 10.3390/d15010087
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85146800920
VL - 15
JO - Diversity
JF - Diversity
SN - 1424-2818
IS - 1
M1 - 87
ER -
ID: 335263905