Abstract
The effect of various preservation methods on the carbon content of the copepod Megacyclops gigas was studied using the carbon content of living animals as a control. No differences were found between animals dried at −20, +60, or +105°C, but in all cases the carbon content was slightly lower than that found in living animals. Chemical preservation with formaldehyde and acid Lugol's solution rapidly resulted in about 35% loss of carbon. Freezing at −20°C in water caused less marked but significant loss of carbon, whereas freezing in dilute formaldehyde yielded values agreeing with those of living animals.
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Salonen, K., Sarvala, J. The effect of different preservation methods on the carbon content of megacyclops gigas. Hydrobiologia 72, 281–285 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005632
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005632