BREMEN: The Paleontological Research Collection of the Geosciences Collection of the University of Bremen

Abstract

The Geosciences Collection of the University of Bremen is a mid-size collection of estimated about 800,000 specimens that are housed at the Faculty of Geosciences of the University of Bremen. It is focused on the field of research in paleontology. The collections include more than 500,000 individual fossils, most of these are ammonoids, a focus that is flanked by the mollusk focus of the neontological collection comprising many type specimens. The ammonoid focus is developed fairly recently as well as a very comprising research collection on the Lower Cretaceous (lower Aptian) of North Germany. The research focus of the collection is furthermore underlined by various new collections mainly from the Cretaceous of England, France, North Africa, North America and Tibet. Nevertheless the collection includes important historical material. Examples are the type of the Baltic amber tick Ixodes succineus, a topotype of the largest ammonoid species recorded, Parapuzosia seppenradensis from the late Cretaceous of North Germany, and a complete skeleton of a giant deer, Megaloceros giganteus, from the late Pleistocene of Ireland. Technically, the material and the collection are in an excellent condition today and thus precondition for the further scientific development is very well. The collection is also housing an established working-group of the geoscientific department of the university intensively incorporating student education. A long-lasting preservation and curation is ensured by a contract between the Ubersee-Museum, the institution formerly holding these city-owned collections, and the University of Bremen. As a consequence the collection has a good staffing today. Permanent positions include one technical assistant and one scientist handling collection affairs. The lively exhibition projects comprise exceptional exhibits on inland water vessel and shopping centers, with a conceptional focus to present aspects of evolution, diversity and constructional morphology.