A Mexican case study on a centralised database from world natural history museums

Abstract

The present contribution is a case study of the possibilities of using data from world scientific collections to
\nunderstand the distribution and conservation of Mexican birds. Information was gathered on specimens from
\nMexico housed in 40 scientific collections in Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Europe. This information
\nwas compiled in a centralized database and various analyses were developed to address historical patterns of
\nornithological investigations in Mexico: current and potential distribution areas of the species; patterns of species
\nrichness, endemism and seasonality; and conservation applications.