Fluid Preserved Collection

The Fluid Preserved Collection is of particular value to science because the entire specimen is preserved, including all of the internal and external anatomical structures. The morphological integrity of these specimens allows for examination of muscles, organs, and other soft tissues, as well as external features, for studies in of adaptive physiology, comparative anatomy, biomechanics, feeding ecology, parasitology, molecular biology, and more.

Fluid specimens in the NSRL are preserved in ethanol (a superior and safer alternative to formalin). The NSRL utilizes specialized papers and inks for identification tags and labels that do not degrade and thus ensure the long-term integrity of fluid jars and of the data associated with each fluid-preserved specimen.

In 2015, a local business donated a set of mechanical-assist shelving units (compactors) to the NSRL, and a portion of the shelving units were designated for this collection. The CH Foundation provided funding for the retrofitting and installation of the units. These compacting units have greatly improved the storage capacity of the Fluid Preserved Collection room. The process of removing the jars and existing cabinets from the space to allow for installation of the new compacting units also provided an ideal opportunity to conduct curatorial maintenance of the collection (refilling jars, replacing caps) and to reorganize the collection in current taxonomic order (per Wilson and Reeder 2005) while it was being re-housed on the new shelving units.

Loan Policy

The current Loan Policies and Procedures of the NSRL may be downloaded here.  (Revised 19 July 2016)

To download the appropriate application for your loan please use the following links:

Voucher loan application 

Genetic resources loan application

Once completed, loan applications for the Genetic Resources should be submitted to the Curator of Genetic Resources, Dr. Caleb Phillips, and specimen-based loan applications should be submitted to the Director of the NSRL, Dr. Robert Bradley, for approval.

For help preparing the vertebrate loan application, specimen information, or questions about loan procedures, please contact the Curator of Collections, Heath Garner, (806) 834-7641 or (806) 742-2486.