Experimental taphonomy in museums: Preparation protocols for skeletons and fossil vertebrates under the scanning electron microscopy

Natural history institutions use different standards and methods to prepare and preserve skeletons of both modern and fossil vertebrates. These standards and treatments may be considered as taphonomic agents of museum collections. Modifications may occur during preparation, affecting the integrity of bone tissues and skeletons or their molecular and geochemical composition. The present evaluation uses a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to analyze the most common preparation methods and standards. The aim of this paper is to evaluate preparation methods to determine those that provide the best SEM observations and those that best preserve osseous tissues and least damage fossil surfaces. In addition, the study of these alterations, produced under known conditions, provides criteria, which aids recognition of modifications that may occur in nature.