The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
ASU Biocollections
ASU Biocollections
Learn more about your impact
Supporting the ASU Biocollections helps preserve biodiversity for future generations. The collections encompass two complementary major units: ASU Natural History Collections (fossil plants, insects, lichens, mollusks, vascular plants and vertebrates) and the National Ecological Observatory Network Biorepository, each with distinct missions and specialized holdings, and together housing millions of specimens, including:
● Over 2 million insect specimens from the Southwest US and New World Tropics, especially beetles, moths, butterflies and weevils.
● Over 15,000 fossil plants from western North America and Australia that are used for plant evolutionary research, teaching and public outreach.
● One of the top 10 largest lichen collections in the US, with over 125,000 specimens, 40,000 of which represent the Greater Sonoran Desert region.
● Over 60,000 vertebrates, primarily from the Southwestern US, including collections of lizards, fish, mammals and birds.
● 140,000 shells from seas, freshwater lakes and streams and on land, representing 5 of the 7 kinds of mollusks.
● One of the most important vascular plant herbaria in the Southwest, with over 330,000 specimens documenting the geographic and ecological distribution of plants in the region.
Being involved and working at the ASU Biocollections has changed my perspective on how I view and appreciate the biology around me, as well as how valuable having a community is. The atmosphere in our collections is very uplifting, and everyone takes the time to know your name and support your endeavors. I have had opportunities to learn and develop many skills, and the team's support has made a big difference. I will always treasure the time I have spent working for the Collections and hope to continue being involved in this community for years to come!”
Impact of donor support
Your donations help us:
● Preserve and care for specimens in the Biocollections.
● Digitize collections to make them accessible to researchers worldwide.
● Train students and facilitate public outreach initiatives.
● Maintain and expand the collections.
Your support ensures the Collections continue to advance science, education and conservation.
I have donated tens of thousands of butterflies, moths, beetles and many other groups to the ASU's insect collection. These contributions represent over 80 research trips to tropical Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama and Peru. Our teams have discovered and described many new species, even in well-visited locations, underscoring the importance of continued collecting and long-term preservation of natural history collections."