The VIMS Invertebrate Collection

The VIMS Invertebrate Collection is a library of preserved invertebrates from Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay, the North Atlantic, and the world beyond. The collection supports VIMS’ institutional mission of research, education, and advisory service by engaging a broad community of scientists worldwide, providing the foundation for graduate education and research, and inspiring the public by sharing the biodiversity of invertebrates and the research that is being done to gain a better understanding of the natural world. Through recent digitization efforts with a grant from NSF (DigIn) to make these specimen records publicly available and discoverable, we are a recognized resource to the scientific community for its collections of regional fauna in Chesapeake Bay.

The VIMS invertebrate collection currently maintains 6,800 catalogued lots and over 40,000 total specimens, with continuing growth. This includes specimens from 19 different Phyla, 518 families and more than 1,000 genera. Primary strengths of the VIMS Invertebrate Collection include large holdings of mostly marine and some tidal freshwater invertebrates from the full range of the U.S. East Coast from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some specimens from Antarctica and other places worldwide. An extensive part of the collection is estuarine specimens from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, represented not only by recently acquired specimens, but also by strong historical research sampling dating back to the 1960s.

In addition to serving as a resource for external professional researchers and students, the Invertebrate Collection also supports research by VIMS graduate students. It offers William & Mary undergraduate students opportunities to participate in research based on natural history specimens.

Between numerous collection tours and outreach events, over 500 specimens from the invertebrate collection were used to reach more than 2,000 people each year. These public tours and outreach events include the annual Marine Science Day at VIMS, the annual Marine Life Day at the VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory and behind-the-scenes collection tours. Along with tours and direct visitors to the VIMS Invertebrate Collection, specimens from the collection are also loaned for research, public talks, and various outreach programs.