[Nhcoll-l] Moldy mammal specimens

Thu Jul 4 00:52:10 EDT 2024

No, more is not better here!

70% ethanol is a fungicide that has a membrane-active effect on the cell
wall. The 30% water  transports the alcohol into the
cytoplasm. The proteins in the membrane of the mould fungi and spores
are denatured and the cell is prevented from carrying out
vital metabolic processes, which kills the fungi and often even the
spores.
In the case of alcohol with a higher concentration, this transport does
not take place or only to a limited extent. Growth is
merely inhibited. The spores of the fungi are not destroyed by this
application. In addition, alcohol in high concentrations can
cause shrinkage.

There is an excellent paper on this topic about mould on papers - see
attachment  (sorry, only in German).

I am also enclosing an interesting publication on your topic from the
journal "Copeia".

Ben wrote that you should check the humidity conditions at the location
of the cabinet. This is important. It is often sufficient
for a better microclimate to move the cabinets 1...2 centimetres away
from the wall and, if possible, place them on feet so that
the entire cabinet is ventilated and no damp patches form.

Good luck!
Joachim

--  
Joachim Haendel

Center of Natural Science Collections
of the Martin Luther University (ZNS)
- Entomological Collection -

Domplatz 4
D-06099 Halle (Saale)
Germany

Phone:  +49 345 - 55 26 447
Email: joachim.haendel at zns.uni-halle.de

>>> John E Simmons <simmons.johne at gmail.com> 04.07.2024, 05:00 >>>

Ben's advice is good, but you might want to consider using full-strength
ethanol (95.6%) rather than 70%. At 70%, ethanol is a
good biocide, but the advantage to full-strenth is that it evaporates
faster and therefore is less likely to affect the specimen
or be absorbed deeply into the specimen. I also recommend cleaning the
specimens by rolling a cotton swab (Q-tip) over the mold
rather than brushing.

--John

John E. Simmons
Writer and Museum Consultant
Museologica
and
Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia
Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos,
Lima

On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 5:42 PM Benjamin Hess <bmhess at umich.edu
[bmhess at umich.edu]> wrote:
> Jessica,
>  
> I treated an entire cabinet with mammal specimens, which included
several bats. I am listing our process steps below. If
> you have any questions, please let me know. I am happy to share more
specific details.
>  * Isolate the cabinet out of the collection (if possible). We moved
ours to our preparation lab.
>  * Remove moldy specimens from the cabinet and place inside a fume
hood.
>  * Discard any archival trays that may hold mold spores. Place in a
sealed trash bag.
>  * Use 70% ethanol to wipe all surfaces of the cabinet including seal.
If possible, you can spray the cabinet with 70% ethanol.
>    Use HEPA vacuum after each treatment. Repeat 2-3 times depending
upon mold severity.
>  * If this is an older cabinet, consider improving the seal.
>  * Check the temperature and humidity conditions of the cabinet
location. We discovered an airflow issue and resealed a
>    collection door that contributed to the issue.
>  * Specimens:
>     * Under the fume hood, use 70% ethanol and a small brush like a
toothbrush (soft brush or Q-tip for bat membrane) to coat
>       all surfaces of specimens with mold. Use new ethanol frequently
based upon mold coverage.
>     * Leave specimens in the fume hood until dry.
>     * With a dry brush, brush specimens toward HEPA vacuum with screen
over tip to prevent unwanted vacuuming (e.g., specimen
>       tags).
>     * Depending upon the severity of mold, repeat 2-3 times.
>     * Once complete, dry specimens under fume hood with a drying
method for specimen preparation including compressed air and
>       additional drying "dust" for skins.
>     * No paper material beyond specimen labels should be retained.
> 
> Sincerely,
>  
> Ben 
> 
> 
> 
> Benjamin M. Hess | EEB Museums Registrar | EEB Museums Safety
Representative to > 3600 Varsity Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48108-2228
> 
> bmhess at umich.edu [bmhess at umich.edu] | 734-764-2432
> 
>  
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 2:56 PM Jessica E. Light
<jessica.light at ag.tamu.edu [jessica.light at ag.tamu.edu]> wrote:
> 
> > Hi everyone,
> > 
> > Anyone have any advice for the best treatment for mold on preserved
skins (small mammals, primarily bats, mostly on exposed
> > wing and tail membranes and ear/face tissue) and skeletal elements
(mainly skulls)? I'm looking for advice for treating the
> > specimens themselves as well as the cases in which the specimens are
stored.
> > 
> > Thank you in advance for your help!
> > Jessica
> > 
> > -- 
> > Dr. Jessica E. Light (she/her/hers)
> > Professor and Curator of Mammals
> > Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
> > Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections
> > Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
> > https://lightjessica.weebly.comhttps://lightjessica.weebly.com
> > 
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> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
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> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
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