[Nhcoll-l] otolith storage

[Adam Cohen (Univ. TX)]

 We are about to greatly increase our otolith holdings so it seems like a
good time to seek advise from this group to develop a consistent system.
Currently our rather small otolith collection includes specimens stored in
a variety of containers and we've mostly been putting them in gel caps (one
cap for each of left and right side). We'd like to develop a single robust
system to store all of our otoliths and potential derivatives (whole
otoliths, slide mounted sections, etc) and keep all material from single
individuals together.

I was thinking of using 4X4in plastic bags (something like this link
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.grainger.com_category_reclosable-2Dpoly-2Dbags_bags-2Dand-2Dbag-2Daccessories_packaging-2Dand-2Dshipping_material-2Dhandling_ecatalog_N-2D18ck-3Fokey-3Dzip-2Bbags-26mkey-3Dzip-2Bbags-26refineSearchString-3Dzip-2Bbags-26NLSCM-3D14-26EndecaKeyword-3Dzip-2Bbags-26searchBar-3Dtrue-26searchRedirect-3Dzip-2Bbags-26sst-3Dsubset-23nav-3D-252Fcategory-252Freclosable-2Dpoly-2Dbags-252Fbags-2Dand-2Dbag-2Daccessories-252Fpackaging-2Dand-2Dshipping-252Fmaterial-2Dhandling-252Fecatalog-252FN-2D18ckZ1yz82iqZ1yz729aZ1z0o0mzZ1yyw9inZ1z0ntw6-252FNtt-2Dzip-252Bbags-253FEndecaKeyword-253Dzip-252Bbags-2526NLSCM-253D14-2526searchRedirect-253Dzip-252Bbags-2526sst-253Dsubset&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=-uQlRhbOqZiAg7iBthYtbBVVETJuCONdt09RfYLy6kM&s=jWHdITdGayUOEX3Sx8DttdwF8UJSzyIEAHM3Lb5-KRw&e=>)
with a somewhat rigid Datamax label of same size inserted, including a
catalog number in the upper left. I think we could store a wide variety of
otoliths and derivatives in these, thus keeping all material from a single
individual together. We'd file each bag, stored upright, in a 4X4X?? box.
Specifically:

1) What's your experience with gel caps? Since they are biodegradable I am
dubious about using them long-term. Some sort of screw cap vial seems
better.

2) What sorts of otolith derivatives might we ever expect to see. Here's my
list (please add): whole otoliths, slide mounted sections, resin
encapsulated pieces??

3) What else are people doing to store otoliths?

Adam

-------------------------

Adam E. Cohen
Ichthyology Collection Manager
Biodiversity Collections
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__integrativebio.utexas.edu_about_collections&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=-uQlRhbOqZiAg7iBthYtbBVVETJuCONdt09RfYLy6kM&s=Solpg8ylYh47zTqnxhmfF-IBIuuZshKZk31KSEHAVRU&e=> (Texas Natural History
Collections), University of Texas,

10100 Burnet Rd., PRC176/R4000
Austin, Texas 78758-4445 U.S.A.

Phone: Cell: 512 970 2479 | Office: 512 471-8845 | Lab: 512 471-4823

Websites: TNHC Ichthyology <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.utexas.edu_tmm_tnhc_fish_&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=-uQlRhbOqZiAg7iBthYtbBVVETJuCONdt09RfYLy6kM&s=n7yzOEmcLU2Q5VssZ5wEFvYGk9tv3C2x9JS-5aY2DL4&e=> | Fishes
of Texas <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.fishesoftexas.org_home&d=DwIFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=-uQlRhbOqZiAg7iBthYtbBVVETJuCONdt09RfYLy6kM&s=GUgqYUpLAPoMljx3GRK-SwdRDST7p3TdzUf0NcY_rU0&e=>
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