Research Collections in Germany: Modern Trends in Methods of Sorting, Preserving, and Research

Abstract

Research methods applied in zoological collections are reviewed. Collection management and data processing are briefly introduced referring to the most integrative database systems. In the section on conservation techniques, the new task of preserving tissues for molecular research is emphasized.The main focus of this overview is to provide some insight into modern imaging techniques like 3D and CT scanning, as well as into the expanding wealth of molecular techniques which have made museum collections extremely valuable sources for phylogenetics and population genetics, as well as for applications in monitoring biodiversity, such as DNA bar coding.Modern techniques may be increasingly sophisticated and costly, yet there is no reason why they should not be applied even to smaller collections, as a research cooperation with universities and other large research institutions is always possible.