scholarly journals Genetic barcoding of museum eggshell improves data integrity of avian biological collections

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Grealy ◽  
Naomi E. Langmore ◽  
Leo Joseph ◽  
Clare E. Holleley
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Molecular Identification ◽  
External Surface ◽  
Data Integrity ◽  
Significant Alteration ◽  
Biological Collections ◽  
Drilling Method ◽  
Drilling Technique ◽  
Genetic Barcoding ◽  
Small Museum

AbstractNatural history collections are often plagued by missing or inaccurate metadata for collection items, particularly for specimens that are difficult to verify or rare. Avian eggshell in particular can be challenging to identify due to extensive morphological ambiguity among taxa. Species identifications can be improved using DNA extracted from museum eggshell; however, the suitability of current methods for use on small museum eggshell specimens has not been rigorously tested, hindering uptake. In this study, we compare three sampling methodologies to genetically identify 45 data-poor eggshell specimens, including a putatively extinct bird’s egg. Using an optimised drilling technique to retrieve eggshell powder, we demonstrate that sufficient DNA for molecular identification can be obtained from even the tiniest eggshells without significant alteration to the specimen’s appearance or integrity. This method proved superior to swabbing the external surface or sampling the interior; however, we also show that these methods can be viable alternatives. We then applied our drilling method to confirm that a purported clutch of Paradise Parrot eggs collected 40 years after the species’ accepted extinction date were falsely identified, laying to rest a 53-year-old ornithological controversy. Thus, even the smallest museum eggshells can offer new insights into old questions.

scholarly journals Fiocruz Biological Collections: strengthening Brazil's biodiversity knowledge and scientific applications opportunities

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela da Silva ◽  
Marcia Chame ◽  
Ricardo Moratelli
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Biological Collections ◽  
Biodiversity Knowledge ◽  
Complementary Role ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Basic And Applied Research

Biological collections are central in understanding and preserving life on Earth. In Brazil, the most representative collections are kept by natural history museums, whose primary focus is in invertebrates, vertebrates and vascular plants. Only a few institutions keep repositories in different kingdoms. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), established in 1900, is a strategic public health institution of the Ministry of Health of Brazil. As such, Fiocruz is responsible for a wide range of activities, from basic research to the development and production of vaccines, drugs, reagents and diagnostic kits. Its biological collections were soon established in the expeditions made by naturalists and physicians seeking integrated knowledge of the fauna, flora and tropical diseases. Since then, they have been part of the institutional policy. In a few decades, those collections were already in the forefront of basic and applied research on tropical parasitic and infectious diseases. Currently, they comprise thirty-three repositories representing part of the Brazilian diversity of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, arthropods, molluscs and plants of medical and environmental importance. Different methods of long-term preservation are applied for the conservation of this wide range of organisms represented by about 6 million specimens. Herein, we describe this range of collections and discuss their complementary role as repositories of groups not represented in other biological collections in Brazil. These valuable biological materials have been used in public health and medical research, as well as for technological development and innovation in Brazil. Parallel to this specific usage, Fiocruz biological collections have played and continue to play a unique and important role in understanding and conserving part of Brazil’s biodiversity that is currently under-represented in other biological and natural history collections in Brazil and South America.

A new species of the genus Fernandezina Birabén, 1951 (Araneae: Palpimanidae: Otiothopinae) from Colombia

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4949 (3) ◽  
pp. 596-600
Author(s):  
LEONEL MARTÍNEZ ◽  
LUIS CARLOS GUTIERREZ
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Biological Collections ◽  
Single Sex ◽  
History Of ◽  
Field Campaigns ◽  
Systematic Understanding ◽  
A New Species

Specimens of the palpimanid spider subfamily Otiothopinae Platnick are commonly collected in soil and leaf litter in tropical and subtropical environments (Platnick 1975; Cala-Riquelme et al. 2018). However, otiothopines are generally poorly represented in biological collections and usually collected in low numbers during field campaigns, with many species represented by only a single sex (Cala-Riquelme et al. 2018). These difficulties, combined with our scarce knowledge of the biology and natural history of these spiders, mean that there are regional gaps in our systematic understanding of the group. Thus, taxonomic additions and notes about natural history are essential in order to increase our knowledge of the group and gradually close those gaps.  

Application of the hole-drilling method for the evaluation of residual stresses near rounded ends

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 424-430
Author(s):  
Jesus Manuel Alegre ◽  
Andrés Díaz ◽  
Isidoro Ivan Cuesta ◽  
Juan Manuel Manso
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Flat Plate ◽  
Hole Drilling ◽  
Material Surface ◽  
Hole Drilling Method ◽  
Drilling Method ◽  
Drilling Technique ◽  
Versatile Technique ◽  
Cold Rolled ◽  
Great Simplicity

The experimental measurement of residual stresses by the hole-drilling method is a versatile technique due to its great simplicity. The technique consists of drilling on a material surface and measuring the relieved deformation on the surface by means of strain gauge rosettes. The most widespread method to obtain residual stresses from relieved deformation is the integral method and is found in the ASTM E837-13a standard. The procedure is standardised for very specific conditions, which are based on the application of the technique on a large flat-plate. To apply this technique to situations outside the standard scope, it is necessary to perform studies that validate its applicability. One of these situations is to evaluate the stresses introduced in hot- or cold-rolled profiles, where the residual stresses are concentrated on the rounded corners generated by rolling operations. In this study, a numerical simulation by finite elements has been carried out to obtain the relieved deformations for the case of drilling near rounded ends. The results show that the hole-drilling technique is applicable for the case of rounded ends; however, there is a significant deviation from the flat-plate condition which can be minimised by considering new matrices for the specific rounding radius and thickness of the analysed workpiece.

On the error analysis of residual stress measurements by the hole-drilling method

1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Zhou ◽  
M D Rao
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Stress Field ◽  
Error Analysis ◽  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Strain Gauges ◽  
Hole Drilling ◽  
Residual Stress Field ◽  
Hole Drilling Method ◽  
Drilling Method ◽  
Drilling Technique

In this paper, an error analysis is carried out to discuss two important parameters that influence the accuracy in the measurement of residual stress by the hole-drilling technique. The first is the error associated with zero strain phenomenon that occurs for certain orientations of the strain gauges. A rigorous condition for zero strain point is given and measurement accuracy is discussed when the zero strain point phenomenon occurs. Secondly, the calculated residual stress field is affected by the methods chosen for the estimation and calibration of the relieved strain coefficients. The errors associated with the estimation of the relieved strain coefficients are also discussed along with their useful range for the calculation of the residual stress field.

scholarly journals Molecular identification of Mazama species (Cervidae: Artiodactyla) from natural history collections

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Meira Bonfim Mantellatto ◽  
Susana González ◽  
José Maurício Barbanti Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Molecular Identification ◽  
Natural History Collections

scholarly journals First record and molecular identification of Toxocara cati in a Pallas’ cat Otocolobus manul from Kyrgyzstan

2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Heddergott ◽  
K. Zhumabai Uulu ◽  
A.N. Barashkova ◽  
A.C. Frantz
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Identification ◽  
Ribosomal Dna ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
First Record ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Conservation Implication ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Second Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Genetic Barcoding

Summary In the present paper, we the report the first documented occurrence in the wild of Toxocara cati in the sole representative of the genus Otocolobus, the Pallas’ cat. The identity of the parasite was confirmed by morphological characteristics and by genetic barcoding of the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA. The morphological measures of the T. cati specimens from the Kyrgyz Pallas’ cat were comparable to values reported. We discuss the conservation implication of our find.

The Effect of Laser Processing Area on Nested-Circle Drilling Method

2014 ◽  
Vol 1082 ◽  
pp. 133-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Lu Hu ◽  
Wang Bin ◽  
Jian Hua Sun ◽  
Zhen Guo Song ◽  
Zhi Ming Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulse Laser ◽  
Laser Processing ◽  
Short Pulse ◽  
Circle Method ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Short Pulse Laser ◽  
Drilling Method ◽  
Drilling Technique ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Circle Diameter

A laser drilling technique named the nested-circle method is introduced in this work, in the respect of short-pulse laser processing.it is found that, as the power increases, the depth to diameter ratio of the hole will increase and the minimum number of circles can be set drilled hole reliably is reduced. Further studies have been carried out on the effect of the number of circles in the nested-circle method. Keys of settings the nested-circle method parameters—Outer circle diameter ‘D1’, Inner circle diameter ‘D2’, The Number of circles ‘R’—have been found out.

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