USNM ornithologists and their collaborators have amassed a large collection of avian tissue samples, most of which are accompanied by voucher specimens in the Division of Birds. These samples are available to qualified scientists doing legitimate research. However, the expense of acquiring, curating, and maintaining this collection requires that material be transferred only with thoughtful consideration. All researchers requesting samples from this collection are asked to comply with the following guidelines.

REQUESTS

An informal inquiry via phone, letter or e-mail may be used to determine which taxa are available and other information about the samples in our collection. The bulk of the tissue was collected in the United States and in the Neotropics, but other geographic areas are represented as well. Most samples are maintained in liquid nitrogen storage systems at -120 C. In some cases, DNA extracts are available, which are maintained at -80 C.

Requests must be made in writing on institutional letterhead. Requests from pre- and postdoctoral students and must be co-signed by the head of the student’s laboratory or by the student’s graduate advisor, who accepts full responsibility for compliance with the terms of the exchange or transfer. We recommend that permission to use tissues be requested before grant or thesis proposals are submitted. Requests should contain the following:

•Brief Description of Research- Items to include are purpose, techniques, gene(s) to be studied, lab facilities, investigators involved and their experience, sources of funding, and expected significance of the study. Please specify the proportion of all samples needed for the study that the applicants will collect for themselves, which taxa or OTUs will be collected, and how these samples will be vouchered.

•List of Material Requested Please specify taxa, number of individuals, specimen nos. and/or localities (if relevant), tissue type(s), whether DNA extracts are acceptable, the amount of material needed, and the preferred shipping methods (e.g., frozen, 95% ethanol, etc.).

•Evidence of Reciprocal Benefit Genetic resource collections are expensive and time-consuming to build and maintain, and are depleted with use. We encourage requesters to support the growth, maintenance and accessibility of these collections. Please describe your efforts in this regard, such as availability of vouchered samples from you or your institution. Applicants associated with labs or institutions that do not maintain genetic resource or museum specimen collections may wish to consider depositing samples and voucher specimens at USNM. Applicants who cannot reciprocate in kind will be charged a replacement fee for samples to help defray the cost of maintaining the collection.

•Permit Verification Please provide copies of USDA and/or USFWS permits required for you to handle requested samples. A USDA Restricted Material permit is usually necessary for US labs if the requested material originated outside the US. CITES or other permits may be required from USFWS, especially if material is to be exported. Information on USDA requirements can be found by calling (301)734-4952 or visiting http://www.aphis.usda.gov on the Worldwide Web.

•Shipping Instructions Please provide detailed instructions including address, contact phone numbers and Federal Express (or other) account number to be charged if the material is to be shipped overnight.

CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL

Each request will be evaluated by Curators associated with the Division of Birds, and approval will be based on the following criteria:

•the scientific value and feasibility of the project

•the qualifications of the investigators

•evidence of sufficient lab facilities and funding

•rarity and replaceability of the samples requested

•approval of original collector(s)

•proportion of samples being collected by applicants

•evidence that the applicants are contributing to the base of genetic resources available for study by collecting, properly documenting and depositing samples and voucher specimens in collections where they are available to others or by supporting such collections financially.

TERMS

Tissue transfers are made under the following conditions:

•Samples will be used only for the purposes stated in the Description of Research. The Description of Research may not be amended nor may the material be used for other purposes without written permission from USNM.

•Neither the samples nor any part, extract or product thereof may be given or loaned to another laboratory or investigator without written consent from USNM.

•No commercial use will be made of, nor license or patent applied for on the samples or any information or data derived from them without written consent from USNM. In some cases, commercial or restrictive use of the samples would violate terms of the permits under which they were collected.

•Recipients will allow USNM or other legitimate investigators reasonable access to the samples and parts, products, extracts and data derived from them for purposes of replication or verification of published results obtained with the samples.

•Recipients will acknowledge USNM and report USNM sample and/or voucher specimen numbers and collector’s name for each sample in every publication that results from research on or other use of the samples. This may be done in table or text format, but collector’s names should be associated with individual specimens.

•Recipients will send 2 reprints of each such paper to USNM upon publication.

•Any other stipulations made by USNM as a condition of a particular transfer or exchange.

•All responsible parties must sign and date a letter of agreement specifying the terms of the transfer.

Questions, inquiries and requests should be addressed to:

Michael Braun Division of Birds and Laboratories of Analytical Biology National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, MRC 534 4210 Silver Hill Rd. Suitland, MD 20746

Tel: (301) 238-3444 Fax: (301) 238-3059 e-mail: braun@lab.si.edu