Dr Simon Grove1, Dr Cathy Byrne1

1TMAG Collections and Research Facility, Rosny Park, Australia

Biography:

Dr Simon Grove has broad interests across the natural world, especially among the remarkable invertebrates of lutruwita-Tasmania, a place he has called home for over two decades. Initially focused on beetles for his ecological research, his career interests now encompass multiple insect orders (and many other invertebrate taxa). His current position has rekindled his long-held affection for flies, and he recently described a new species of hoverfly from the Tarkine. Taxonomy aside, Simon focuses on building the Museum’s collections (primarily through his own collecting efforts) and elevating them to contemporary standards of curation, including through digitising specimen records. Simon has authored numerous scientific papers and articles, as well as two books, one on Tasmanian seashells and another, ‘Seasons in the South: a Tasmanian naturalist’s journey of discovery – and recovery’, that uses personal narrative to tell the fascinating stories of Tasmanian invertebrates and other elements of the natural world.

Abstract:

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery houses state collections across multiple disciplines, from art to cultural heritage to the natural sciences. The invertebrate zoology collections are among the largest of the Museum’s holdings, with the insects comprising the greatest proportion of specimens. At the beginning of the 20th Century, insect collection grew rapidly due to the dedication of a pioneering entomologist staff member. A further growth spurt occurred mid-century when another entomologically minded curator was in position; but thereafter, the rate of expansion tailed off, and for a while the insect collection’s status could rightfully be described as near moribund. It has only been in the last decade and a half that this state of affairs has been turned around, with the collection expanding at a rapid rate – both in numbers of specimens and in taxonomic scope – through curators’ collecting efforts as well as through significant and substantial donations from other individuals and entities. Today’s collection represents the largest repository of Tasmanian insects in the world. Dozens of new cabinets, all fitted out with unit trays, have been acquired to meet the needs of this expansion. It is very much a working collection, curated by entomologists, supported by a team of capable volunteers, and frequently hosting visiting researchers. At any one time, hundreds or thousands of specimens are out on loan across the world. Specimen records are increasingly digitised, and most are now available via the Atlas of Living Australia and Tasmanian Natural Values Atlas. Future work will prioritise quality over quantity, aiming for as complete and representative a taxonomic coverage of Tasmania’s insect fauna as is feasible. This poster charts key facets in the maturation of the collection over its first century of existence.