Arctos data managers have a lot of options for how data are entered and updated. The Arctos Handbook provides detailed documentation and “How to” guides on data management. Here we briefly summarize the different options to show the breadth of Arctos functionality. All changes to the data are made through a browser and available online within 24 hours. Thus, users searching for data in Arctos are getting them in essentially real-time.

• • Permissions – Arctos is managed as a Virtual Private Database that allows us to share resources and some data (eg., taxonomy, geography) while maintaining fine-scale control over access to data. User permissions are controlled at the level of collections and data tables. Thus, curators or collection managers decide who can manage data for specific collections within their institution, and within each collection, what kinds of data they can access. For example, students may be given access to data entry but not taxonomy or higher geography. This control leads to higher data quality in Arctos as a whole. Users must be logged in with the proper permissions to manage data.

• • Single Records – Arctos has a customizable data entry interface for adding new records one by one. Once the record is online, most changes can be made through the single record detail page. Options include changing identification, accession number, locality or collecting event, parts, attributes, other identifiers, media, and encumberances.

• Bulkloading Tools – Arctos has a number of tools that are used to manage data in batch. Bulkloaders are available for uploading new specimen/observational records (see Data Migration) as well as media records, and for making changes to existing records. These include changes to identification, accession number, parts, agents, loans, attributes, encumberances, and more. Tools may be accessed through either the main Arctos site (Enter Data – Bulkloader; Enter Data – Batch Tools) or in one of the “Manage” dropdown options above the Specimen Records table resulting from a search.

Note: Featured image above consists of a tray of Marbled Murrelet specimens in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. These specimens have been used in genetic and isotopic studies of Marbled Murrelets, which are classified as endangered. View Arctos record showing a project and publication using these specimens.