Synthesys - home

Collections & expertise
NRM has extensive biological and geological collections. These collections are large in their taxonomic, temporal and spatial breadth, and include:

The collections are organised into nine core collections and contain ca. 9 million specimens; including 98,000 primary types. Each of the core collection includes a number of special collections (e.g. Regnell Herbarium, Chinese Fossil Plant Collection), and also includes many types (e.g. Weevils Collection).

NRM has a concentration of expertise across a wide range of disciplines within the natural sciences.

Supporting analytical facilities
Visiting scientists have access to a variety of research facilities including advanced analytical equipment, dedicated laboratories, and excellent libraries. Much key specimen information is available through searchable internal databases, and a considerable part is available via the Internet. Visiting scientists also have access to skilled technical staff and an automated sequencer.

Preparatory facilities for ultrastructure studies of biological materials. Transmission microscope & SEM, and a gas chromatography laboratory for analysis of organochlorine compounds. Services for physical handling and x-ray investigation of zoological specimens and a DNA sequencing laboratory

Facilities for geological research include a mineral synthesis laboratory, Mössbauer spectrometer, FTIR spectrometer, UV photospectrometer, and a clean laboratory for low-level contamination chemical preparation of rock samples; 3 mass spectrometers for isotope analysis; a thermal-ionisation mass spectrometer, a multicollector ICP mass spectrometer equipped with both solution nebulisation & laser ablation for in-situ microsampling, and high mass-resolution ion microprobe (NORDSIM). The latter is used for in-situ isotope and trace-element microanalysis, and is one of only three of this kind in Europe. The SEM has facilities for cathode-luminescence, back-scatter electron imaging, and energy dispersive elemental analysis.

List of facilities (Excel)

Fossil Animals (Palaeozoology). Ca one million items. About half are from Sweden, and most the rest is from Europe (inc. the Arctic islands of Spitsbergen, Bear Island, Novaya Zemlya & Vaigach).

Fossil Plants (Palaeobotany). Over 250,000 specimens consisting of macro-, meso- & microfossils, and includes collections from China, Sweden, and polar regions.

Vascular plants (Phanerogamic Botany). Over 2.6 million specimens, including 40,000 identified types of our estimated 300,000 in a special type collection. Also includes collections from many areas with a high level of biodiversity (e.g. South Africa, South America & the Caribbean). A collection of 50,000 pollen and spore slides.

Non-vascular plants (Cryptogamic Botany). Over 1.5 million specimens, including many types. The bryophyte herbarium, with more than 700,000 specimens has 20,000 identified types of an estimated 40,000 in a special collection. Includes collections from the Nordic countries, Arctic North America, and Asia, and sub-Antarctic regions including Patagonia.

Vertebrates (Vertebrate Zoology). Contains material from all continents, including 150,000 birds, 105,000 mammals, ca. 400,000 fishes, and ca 50,000 reptiles & amphibians.

Environmental Specimen Bank (Ecotoxicology). Is a base for national contaminant monitoring in Sweden. Dates back to the early 1960s and contains over 190,000 specimens. Long time series of homogeneous matrices from terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems make these collections of value for molecular analyses and extraction of chemical compounds for ecotoxicological studies.

Invertebrates (Invertebrate Zoology). Over 5-10 million specimens. The mollusc collection (ca 300,000 lots) is particularly strong in material from high latitude areas.

Insects (Entomology). Ca 2.5 million specimens including historical collections (De Geer collection).

Minerals (Mineralogy). Over 100,000 samples rapidly accessible via a searchable database. Includes collections from the famous Långban mines (25,000 samples) and other classical ore deposits.

¹These figures are the number of identified types within the collection and the estimated total is several times this figure.

The Swedish Taxonomic Facility (SE-TAF)

Collections | Analytical facilities | Strengths of collections | Staff expertise