Botanical Time Capsules: Documenting Biodiversity Through Time
Alison Vaughan, Manager Collections at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, deep dives into the history of the 1.5 million preserved specimens housed in the National Herbarium of Victoria.
Documenting the presence of a plant, algae or fungus at a particular place and time, each specimen is a botanical time capsule that helps us understand past and present biodiversity. They allow us to track how plants, algae and fungi respond to environmental changes, helping inform the conservation work that supports species survival.
This talk was presented by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria as part of the 'Survive & Thrive' program for National Science Week 2024, supported by the Inspiring Victoria program.