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”
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