New standards for data about specimens and species occurrence data are rapidly being adopted by the museum collections community, and are relevant far beyond collections. Extended Specimens and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) are concepts based on broad use of Digital Persistent Identifiers (PIDs) to implement linkages across the internet to diverse data related to both specimens and geography, timing and other details of species occurrence. These new standards provide easy ways to link to original documentation deposited along with specimens (imagery of live specimens, habitats, collectors, fieldnotes, etc.) as wellas linkages to subsequent derivatives from specimens (e.g. data sets, X-rays, CT scans, tissue samples, sequences, publications) even if those derivatives are deposited or published on diverse digital platforms (e.g. Genbank, BOLD, Morphobase). Such linkages greatly increase the value of specimens and the data associated with them, and assure that that value persists into the future, and helps get around the linkage rot (broken links) typical of many web-based publications.

We describe our experiences working with legacy specimens that exemplify the obstacles confronted when such protocols are not used, often resulting in specimen occurrence data never being published or used in future research. But, if these standards are recognized and implemented early in the design phase of sampling protocols for new projects, work loads can be manageable.

Historical organismal occurrence data are critical for establishing baselines for any kind of attempts to implement sustainable management, and ideally, all data ever collected should be made openly and freely available in readily usable, standard formats like these protocols assure. We provide links to key resources to help people familiarize themselves with the benefits related to Extended Specimens and FAIR data.