Assessing confidence in zoological specimen collection metadata for use in scientific studies

Zoological specimens held in natural history collections are an invaluable resource for studying biodiversity and providing baseline data for species of conservation concern. Confidence in collection metadata associated with specimens is needed to ensure certainty in scientific studies. These collection metadata may contain inaccuracies or missing information, which can occur during documentation or from anecdotal accounts. The few standardized methods available to assess confidence do not cater to a wide array of specimen types which may explain why many studies use unspecified or subjective methods, or neglect to address confidence altogether. Here, we developed a standardized method using flowcharts to rank confidence in collection location and date data for a wide array of specimens incorporating a minimum standard to determine which specimens should be included in a study. We demonstrated the utility of this method in a case study using Largetooth Sawfish Pristis pristis specimens (i.e., dried rostra) to assess their historical global range. As more stringent standards were applied, the pool of specimens decreased, but the confidence in their associated collection metadata increased. This novel method can increase transparency, certainty, comparability, and replicability of studies using specimens. This can reduce subjectivity, leading to more accurate baselines for conservation management.