1. Collection of tissue
Photo: Glenn Shea
All projects start with the collection of specimens from the field. Below a scientist is checking pit-fall traps for animals. See the Herpetology or Fish websites for more on fieldwork.
Sorting, identification
Specimens are then sorted and identified by specialist scientists. A tissue sample is taken and it is usually snap frozen in liquid nitrogen (right). In very remote areas or in conditions when transporting a liquid nitrogen Dewar is too difficult, tissue samples are often preserved in ethanol.
Catalogued and databased
At the Museum, specimens are catalogued and information such as species, habitat and area of collection are entered into a database.
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