University of Washington Fish Collection (OBIS Distribution)

Over 296,000 adult fish specimens and 6.9 million early life history specimens are cataloged in this collection from the University of Washington. The database includes taxonomic and locality data for preserved fishes, with a strong focus on marine species from the North Pacific Ocean. Approximately 1000 new adult lots and 3000-5000 new early life lots are added annually.

Use Cases

• Modeling marine biodiversity distributions based on taxonomic and locality data
• Analyzing species composition and richness across the North Pacific based on the collection's taxonomic hierarchy
• Studying temporal trends in fish populations based on the described annual addition rates and historical collection periods
• Mapping specimen collection hotspots based on the described geographic focus on the Bering Sea and North Pacific

Strengths

• Large scale with over 296,000 adult specimens and 6.9 million early life specimens
• Detailed taxonomic hierarchy covering 4,054 species, 1,331 genera, and 306 families for adult specimens
• Clear geographic focus on the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean, with some global coverage
• Active growth with approximately 1000 new adult lots and 3000-5000 new early life lots added annually

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the collection's primary sources and regions

Provenance

Source

University of Washington Fish Collection (UWFC)

Collection Method

Physical collection and cataloging of preserved fish specimens.

Time Range

Historical collection, with significant early life history material from 1965-1998; ongoing additions.

Freshness

Approximately 1000 new adult lots and 3000-5000 new early life lots are added annually.

Geography

Primarily the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean, from Baja California to the Philippines; includes other global localities.