Mammal collectors' manual : a guide for collecting, documenting, and preparing mammal specimens for scientific research /

Abstract

The Royal Ontario Museum, 1980 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Canada M5S 2C6 PRINTED AND BOUND IN CANADA AT THE ALGER PRESS measurements, information on weight, sex, age, date, reproductive data, habitat description, and a precise locality description, including latitude and longitude, are stored on magnetic tape. Other institutions with major mammal collections have also begun to use similar computer systems and it is possible that in the future most museum catalogue records may be stored in a central data bank. To utilize fully the potential of these cataloguing systems, collectors should provide the maximum amount of data for specimens. With an increasing concern for the conservation of mammalian species and the additional restrictions being placed on collectors, it is most important that a reasonable and responsible collecting policy be followed. Collecting ethics and collecting laws are discussed in section 2. The recent proliferation of import/export regulations for scientific specimens is another area of concern for collectors. Canadian and US import/export regulations are discussed in some detail in section 7. Collectors are urged to read these two sections carefully before collecting specimens. 2. Collecting Policy 2.1 Collecting Laws In recent years there has been a great increase in the number of collecting laws and endangered species acts that directly affect the scientific collector. These laws may be complex and ambiguous and obtaining the necessary permits for collecting in an area may involve considerable bureaucracy. Nevertheless, the collector has an obligation to learn and comply with these laws and regulations. It is essential that permits be obtained prior to any field collecting. Mammals that are protected under endangered species legislation should not be disturbed or collected except under special permit. Canada In Canada, a Scientific Collector's Licence issued by the various provincial and territorial governments is needed. Fur-bearers and game species are usually regulated under provincial Game Acts and Regulations and special permission may be necessary for collecting these species. Additional permits may be needed to work in a provincial park. In Ontario, for example, collectors who plan to work in provincial parks must have their research proposal approved by the District Manager and the Director of the Parks Branch, Ministry of Natural Resources. Permission from the federal government is required for collecting in national parks. Some provinces and territories also require permits for salvaging dead mammals or parts thereof (carcasses, bones, shed antlers). For more information, consult the appropriate provincial or territorial governments. Although Canada has no federal endangered species act, Canada has signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (see section 7.2). Ontario and New Brunswick have passed provincial endangered species legislation. United States The US laws are complex and involve state and federal authorities. Generally, wildlife is regulated by th...

The checklist and abundances of Small Mammals in Idu, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

“…Indirect method involved the observation of small mammal faecal dropping, remnant of plant parts they consume during their meals. The direct method involves the capturing of small mammals with live-traps as described by Nagorsen and Peterson (1980). They were positioned at the site of small mammals' activities (holes, runs, logs, etc.)…”

Retention of Leishmania (Leishmania) Mexicana in naturally infected rodents from the State of Campeche, Mexico

“…In ten animals, smears were taken from kidney and heart. Nineteen voucher specimens (skin and skeleton) were prepared (Nagorsen & Peterson 1980) for the museum of the School of Biology of the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico and the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada.…”

Biological observations and first stranding record of Mesoplodon peruvianus from the central Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Mexico

“…The carcass condition was determined following the scale proposed by Rowles et al 2001, and specific measurements was taken based on Nagorsen and Peterson (1980). The species and sex was determined based on external morphology using the expertise of the examiner and various marine mammals guides (Carwardine 1995;Jefferson and Leatherwood 1995).…”