Innovations that changed Mammalogy: fluid preparation of research specimens

Timm, Robert M.; McLaren, Suzanne B; Genoways, Hugh H.

doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyab003

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Birds and mammals are also sometimes preserved whole and in fluid (e.g. Banks et al , 1973 for United States and Canadian bird collections), often when individuals are of historical importance (Timm et al , 2021) or belong to endangered species (Cervantes et al , 2016). We will focus on fluid-preserved vertebrate specimens below, and provide guidelines for validating approaches for extracting parasitological information from other kinds of specimens (including study skins).…”

Section: What Specimens Exist?mentioning

confidence: 99%

How to use natural history collections to resurrect information on historical parasite abundances

et al. 2023

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Many of the most contentious questions that concern the ecology of helminths could be resolved with data on helminth abundance over the past few decades or centuries, but unfortunately these data are rare. A new sub-discipline – the historical ecology of parasitism – is resurrecting long-term data on the abundance of parasites, an advancement facilitated by the use of biological natural history collections. Because the world's museums hold billions of suitable specimens collected over more than a century, these potential parasitological datasets are broad in scope and finely resolved in taxonomic, temporal and spatial dimensions. Here, we set out best practices for the extraction of parasitological information from natural history collections, including how to conceive of a project, how to select specimens, how to engage curators and receive permission for proposed projects, standard operating protocols for dissections and how to manage data. Our hope is that other helminthologists will use this paper as a reference to expand their own research programmes along the dimension of time.

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Section: What Specimens Exist?mentioning

confidence: 99%

How to use natural history collections to resurrect information on historical parasite abundances

et al. 2023

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“…Although we knew the possible negative consequences of sharing data, including commercial uses not approved by institutions, oVert embraced the possibilities for dramatic positive impacts on science, education, art, and more. The oVert approach is clearly appealing to many in the research and museum communities since it is regularly offered as an example of the next wave of museum digitization projects (Nelson and Ellis 2018 , Harmon et al 2019 , Hipsley and Sherratt 2019 , Beans 2020 , Hedrick et al 2020 , Timm et al 2021 , Ford et al 2023 ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Increasing the impact of vertebrate scientific collections through 3D imaging: The openVertebrate (oVert) Thematic Collections Network

Blackburn,

Boyer,

Gray

et al. 2024

BioScience

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The impact of preserved museum specimens is transforming and increasing by three-dimensional (3D) imaging that creates high-fidelity online digital specimens. Through examples from the openVertebrate (oVert) Thematic Collections Network, we describe how we created a digitization community dedicated to the shared vision of making 3D data of specimens available and the impact of these data on a broad audience of scientists, students, teachers, artists, and more. High-fidelity digital 3D models allow people from multiple communities to simultaneously access and use scientific specimens. Based on our multiyear, multi-institution project, we identify significant technological and social hurdles that remain for fully realizing the potential impact of digital 3D specimens.

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“…For larger mammals, he recommended an incision along the middle of the belly from near the anus to the middle of the lower jaw and perpendicular incisions from the midline down the inside of each leg. The skins were then to be stored in a solution of corrosive sublimate (mercury chloride, HgCl 2 ) and spirits (probably spirits of wine, ethyl alcohol at 60-65%- Timm et al 2021) in a keg or barrel with wooden hoops because iron hoops would be destroyed by the solution.…”

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confidence: 99%