2007 MSC Inservice Training inEnvironmental Science

Session 1Prof. William Snyder, Environmental Science

Preparation of Study Specimens

Reading:

Handout: Collection and Field Preservation

of Biological Materials

Collecting Field Data & SpecimensWhy collect?

Collecting Field Data & SpecimensWhy collect?

1. biometrics/condition

Collecting Field Data & SpecimensWhy collect?

1. biometrics/condition2. food preferences

Collecting specimens

Collecting specimens1. Whole creature

Collecting specimens1. Whole creature

a. voucher specimens

Collecting specimens1. Whole creature

a. voucher specimens2. Fur, bones

Collecting specimens1. Whole creature

a. voucher specimens2. Fur, bones

a. context

Collecting specimens1. Whole creature

a. voucher specimens2. Fur, bones

a. context3. Feces, pellets

Collecting specimens1. Whole creature2. Fur, bones3. Feces, pellets4. Tracks

Means of Preservation

Means of Preservation1. Thermal

a) refrigerationb) freezing

Means of Preservation1. Thermal2. Liquid Preservation

a) formalinb) alcoholsc) mixed solutions

Means of Preservation1. Thermal2. Liquid Preservation3. Dry Preservation

a) taxidermied mountsb) study skinsc) flat skinsd) skeletal remains

Means of Preservation1. Thermal2. Liquid Preservation3. Dry Preservation4. Freeze Drying

Supporting Data

Supporting Data1. Bare minimum

Supporting Data1. Bare minimum

a. name, date, locality, sex, and collector

Supporting Data1. Bare minimum

a. name, date, locality, sex, and collector

2. Basic biometrics

Supporting Data1. Bare minimum

a. name, date, locality, sex, and collector

2. Basic biometricsa. total length

Supporting Data1. Bare minimum

a. name, date, locality, sex, and collector

2. Basic biometricsa. total lengthb. length of tail

Supporting Data1. Bare minimum

a. name, date, locality, sex, and collector

2. Basic biometricsa. total lengthb. length of tailc. length of hind foot

Supporting Data1. Bare minimum

a. name, date, locality, sex, and collector

2. Basic biometricsa. total lengthb. length of tailc. length of hind footd. ear height

Supporting Data1. Bare minimum

a. name, date, locality, sex, and collector

2. Basic biometricsa. total lengthb. length of tailc. length of hind footd. ear height

405-138-57-20

Specimen Tag

O Wm. Snyder, coll, prep

Owens Farm, MSC Campus, Morrisville, NYN 42o 53.145 W 075o 38.314

405-138-57-20 20 Feb 2006

Preparing the Study Skin

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision4. Draw out knees & cut lower leg

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision4. Draw out knees & cut lower leg5. Separate skin from hind body & tail

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision4. Draw out knees & cut lower leg5. Separate skin from hind body & tail6. Invert skin & push off

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision4. Draw out knees & cut lower leg5. Separate skin from hind body & tail6. Invert skin & push off7. Expose wrist; strip flesh; cut below

elbow

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision4. Draw out knees & cut lower leg5. Separate skin from hind body & tail6. Invert skin & push off7. Expose wrist; strip flesh; cut below

elbow8. Expose ear; pinch off ear tube

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision4. Draw out knees & cut lower leg5. Separate skin from hind body & tail6. Invert skin & push off7. Expose wrist; strip flesh; cut below

elbow8. Expose ear; pinch off ear tube9. Expose eyes; sever eyelids with two cuts

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision4. Draw out knees & cut lower leg5. Separate skin from hind body & tail6. Invert skin & push off7. Expose wrist; strip flesh; cut below

elbow8. Expose ear; pinch off ear tube9. Expose eyes; sever eyelids with two cuts10. Expose jaws; cut cheeks

Preparing the Study Skin1. Prepare cotton body2. Prepare leg & tail wires3. Make incision4. Draw out knees & cut lower leg5. Separate skin from hind body & tail6. Invert skin & push off7. Expose wrist; strip flesh; cut below

elbow8. Expose ear; pinch off ear tube9. Expose eyes; sever eyelids with two cuts10. Expose jaws; cut cheeks11. Expose & separate rostrum

Preparing the Study Skin12. Remove all fat & clean skin13. Sew mouth

Preparing the Study Skin12. Remove all fat & clean skin13. Sew mouth14. Treat skin with borax

Preparing the Study Skin12. Remove all fat & clean skin13. Sew mouth14. Treat skin with borax15. Wire front legs

Preparing the Study Skin12. Remove all fat & clean skin13. Sew mouth14. Treat skin with borax15. Wire front legs16. Form body & insert @ nose

Preparing the Study Skin12. Remove all fat & clean skin13. Sew mouth14. Treat skin with borax15. Wire front legs16. Form body & insert @ nose17. Turn skin over body gently

Preparing the Study Skin12. Remove all fat & clean skin13. Sew mouth14. Treat skin with borax15. Wire front legs16. Form body & insert @ nose17. Turn skin over body gently18. Wire hind legs

Preparing the Study Skin12. Remove all fat & clean skin13. Sew mouth14. Treat skin with borax15. Wire front legs16. Form body & insert @ nose17. Turn skin over body gently18. Wire hind legs19. Wire tail

Preparing the Study Skin12. Remove all fat & clean skin13. Sew mouth14. Treat skin with borax15. Wire front legs16. Form body & insert @ nose17. Turn skin over body gently18. Wire hind legs19. Wire tail20. Adjust skin & body form

Preparing the Study Skin21. Sew up

Preparing the Study Skin21. Sew up22. Comb out pelage

Preparing the Study Skin21. Sew up22. Comb out pelage23. Pin out & form skin for drying

Preparing the Skeletal Remains

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection

a. condition

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection

a. conditionb. age of specimen

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing

a. natural decomposition

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing

a. natural decompositionb. boiling

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing

a. natural decompositionb. boilingc. cool water defleshing

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing

a. natural decompositionb. boilingc. cool water defleshingd. dermestid cultures

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing3. Bleaching

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing3. Bleaching

a. bleach (sodium hypochlorite)

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing3. Bleaching

a. bleach (sodium hypochlorite)b. hydrogen peroxide

Preparing the Skeletal Remains1. Collection2. Defleshing3. Bleaching

a. bleach (sodium hypochlorite)b. hydrogen peroxidec. sodium carbonates (Oxyclean)