Museum Techniques BIO 300

Natural History Collection

Research

Many specimensEfficient storageDataLong-term curation

Education

Few specimensDisplayCostly – Time and moneyRequires more areaShorter life –exhibits rotated

Skull/Skeleton prep

Dermestid beetle larvae

Moist paper towels, Specimens in cardboard boxHard dog chow to get them started until frass builds up

Isopods (roly-polys) for small skeletons

Maceration – “Phew!”“Cold” VS “Hot”

Enzymeaddition

Weak (<10%) Hydrogen Peroxide/bleachSolution, only as long as needed(Dip and monitor)

Fluid/Alcoholic SpecimensFix in 10% FormalinRinseStore in 70% ethanol

Large specimensIncision or injected