NOTES ON METHODS FOR THE NARCOTIZATION, KILLING, FIXATION,
AND PRESERVATION OF MARINE ORGANISMS *

Compiled by Henry D. Russell, April 1963
Systematics-Ecology Program. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.

FOREWARD [by H. D. Russell]
An important activity of the Systematics-Ecology Program is the preparation of a study collection of the marine organisms of the Cape Cod region. Preparation of animal specimens requires careful narcotization, killing, fixation, and preservation. Two very useful manuals are:
(a) Lo Bianco, Salvatore. 1899. The methods employed at the Naples Zoological Station for the preservation of marine animals. Translated from the original Italian by E. O. Hovey. U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. No. 39, Part M: 3 - 42.
(b) Wagstaffe, R., and J. H. Fidler. 1955. The preservation of natural history specimens. Vol. I. Invertebrates. London: H. F. & G. Witherby Ltd. 205 pp., 139 text figs.
Reprints of the Lo Bianco paper are no longer generally available and the paper lacks an index. Lo Bianco discusses his material by species whereas Wagstaffe and Fidler consider only major taxa. To simplify the work of narcotization and preservation of animals, the following sections have been compiled to serve as a preliminary working guide. Improved methods will be incorporated in these notes as they appear and are solicited.
Two additional references, not abstracted here, are also useful: (1) British Museum (Natural History), 1954. Instructions for collectors: Invertebrate animals other than insects. Great Britain: Adlard & Son, Ltd., 76 pp. (2) Guyer, M. F., 1953. Appendix D. Preparation of microscopic material, pp. 283-306, in Animal Micrology. University of Chicago Press.
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1.   Index to species treated in Lo Bianco's paper

  2.   Copy of Lo Bianco's paper [Editor's note: "The Methods Employed at the Naples Zoological Station."] Utensils,  Reagents,  Mixtures,  Methods of Preparation

  3.   Some narcotizing, killing, fixing and preserving reagents and their uses, compiled from both Lo Bianco and Wagstaffe-Fidler

  4.   Methods for narcotizing and preserving marine invertebrates, abstracted from Wagstaffe and Fidler, arranged by major taxa

  5.   Some recent methods for narcotization, killing, fixation, and preservation of marine organisms. (1) Propylene phenoxytol, (2) Sevin and rapid freezing. M. R. Carriker, Appendix I.

*EDITORIAL NOTICES:

  (1)  CONTENT:  The original content of Russell's work is presented, most of which deals with invertebrates. However, some notes on fish are included, and any application involving them must be in strict compliance with current institutional animal care and use (IACUC) regulations, as well as any other local laws or guidelines concerning vertebrates. Legal use of some of the methods and agents with certain invertebrates may also be subject to local regulations.

  (2)  SPECIES NAMES:  This work includes classification and species names that are no longer in use. Modern names, synonyms, and current classification information can be obtained from the MBL Taxonomic Name Server.

  (3)  NEWER METHODS:  A newer, ongoing compilation of anesthetic, relaxant, and narcotization methods for invertebrates is available online from Biological Bulletin Compendia.

  (4)  SAFETY:   The information in this publication is for professional use only. Many of the agents described, such as the osmic acid, the "corrosive sublimate" containing mercury, and the concentrated acids, are particularly hazardous. Handling and application of any chemical or physical agents referred to in this work or its cited literature require health and safety precautions (safety mask, chemical hood, etc.) as specified on relevant MSDS data sheets or in other documentation. The editors, The Biological Bulletin,and the MBL assume no responsibility for any health effects, losses of animals or data, legal issues, or any other problems that may arise due to use of agents in this work or in its cited literature.

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