[Nhcoll-l] preserving leafy sea dragon

[John E Simmons]

Probably. The idea of a balanced osmotic solution is logical, but like so
many aspects of fluid preservation, it has not been subjected to a
controlled test yet.

Another thing to consider in fixation is what buffering system is in use
and its effect on salinity (we buffer for pH, of course, but using
salts...).

If you happen to be looking for a project that will lead to a needed
publication, this would be a good one!

--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, Sep 3, 2025 at 9:27 AM Lennart Lennuk <
Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee> wrote:

> Hi!
>
> Just wondering if it is also important to use same salt level when
> organisms are collected from low salinity (5-7) environment?
>
>
>
> Best!
> Lennart
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *John
> E Simmons
> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 2, 2025 9:24 PM
> *To:* Catherine Early (she/her) <cearly at smm.org>
> *Cc:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] preserving leafy sea dragon
>
>
>
> I agree with Simon and Dirk. Use 1:9 formaldehyde and the same salt water
> the animal was living in, and inject as needed to make sure you get good
> penetration of the fixative. Once it is hardened, it can be transferred to
> 70% ETOH for long-term storage.
>
>
>
> --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 Tue, Sep 2, 2025 at 10:09 AM Catherine Early (she/her) <cearly at smm.org>
> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> I'm passing along a request from advice from a zoo partner: they had a
> leafy sea dragon pass away and want to fluid-preserve it. They have
> formalin on hand and can put it into there immediately after necropsy, but
> is there a better approach? My experience is with fluid-preserving
> terrestrial animals and I don't have my copy of John Simmons' book at hand
> today, so I'm feeling out of my depth to help them. Thanks!
>
>
> Best,
>
> Catherine
>
>
>
> *Catherine M. Early, PhD*
>
> *she/her/hers*
>
> Barbara Brown Chair of Ornithology
>
> cearly at smm.org
>
> https://catherineearly.wixsite.com/home
>
>
>
>
>
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