NHM Expeditions - Costa Rica

Once specimens were brought back to the field lab, they were sorted and then photographed; occasionally drawings were made. It is important to photograph nudibranchs when they are alive since they lose their color when preserved and color is an important identification tool.

The species identity of the specimens was determined if not already known, and labels and field records were prepared, noting when, where and by whom the specimen was collected. Next the specimens were put in a solution of 8 % magnesium chloride to relax and anesthetize them and prevent them from curling up. The final step was preserving them in ethanol, Bouin's solution or formalin depending on what needed to be done with the specimen back at one of the home institutions. Some of the specimens would be used for tissue samples for DNA extraction and analysis, some would be used to take photographs with a scanning electron microscope at great magnification and others would be added to the permanent specimen collections at INBio.

As part of this project, the team also spent time documenting the diversity of other marine life and the terrestrial biodiversity we encountered, as well as interviewing team members and others about their thoughts on research, biodiversity and conservation issues.

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