Biological responses to climate change are complex, on decade-long timescales, and difficult to sort out against the backdrop of variability in nature. Most studies specifically focused on biological responses to climate only go back 40 years or so. #ClimateMW

This is why museum specimens, some of which date to the pre-industrial era, are so important for inferring trends. #ClimateMW

Specimens are also useful for studying other types of environmental change. For example, some recent studies are showing that land use and agriculture are responsible for insect declines; museum collections have been relevant in demonstrating this. #ClimateMW