Laboratory facilities for natural history specimen-based research; identification, conservation, storage and loaning of plant, animal, mineral and fossil specimens.
The staff of 50 experts conducts scientific research and manages the collection of nearly 15 million specimens (the national collection of Canada). The research staff are experts in biological systematics, with taxonomic specialization for a wide range of Canadian species, and others. They conduct work in a wide range of laboratory spaces that are specialized for the discovery, identification and description of species of plants and animals (living and fossil forms) and minerals. The collections staff are experts in the preservation, conservation and use of the specimens, and they have specialized training to support the access and use of the collections by the scientific community. There is a wide range of microscopy, X-ray and biochemical analytical equipment. Many specialized work areas support the collection so it is available for scientific research, including a cryogenic storage facility, 3D scanning and colour printing, photographic studio, Z-stacking high-resolution photography, rock cutting, lapidary for preparation of mineral analysis, preparation and storage of microalgae, plants, minerals, fossils, vertebrates and invertebrates, animal dissection, skeletal preparation (dermestid de-fleshing), digitization and sharing of collection data, including images.
Sample analysis and identification to the species level.
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Mining, minerals and metals
- Ocean industries
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| X-ray lab | Bruker D8 DISCOVER
| X-ray Micro Powder diffractometry Characterization of crystal structures |
| X-ray lab | Bruker D2 PHASER 2nd Generation | X-ray Micro Powder diffractometry Characterization of crystal structures |
| Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (FEI Apreo, Oxford EDS system) | High resolution, high magnification images of objects and additional sensor for assessment of mineral composition | |
| Cryogenic storage | Chart MVE Fusion Series Freezers | Mechanical (-70 C) and liquid nitrogen (-170 C) freezers, with capacity for up to 1 M specimens |
| DNA sequencing | Hitachi Applied Biosystems 24-capillary 3500xL Genetic Analyzer | Sanger sequencing |
| PCR | Eppendorf Mastercycler Pro S (8) | Replication of DNA material |
| Dermestid beetle colony | Beetle colony within a secure building | Cleaning tissue from skeletal material |
| Fossil preparation | Space and logistical support for all sizes of fossil preparation; pneumatic scribes, sand support box for consolidation, acid washing facility | Removal of matrix material from fossils and consolidation of processed pieces |
| Soft-tissue X-ray | Thermo Scientific PXS5-926EA Microfocus X-ray source; FlashXPro Flat Digital Detector Array Imager (Vidisco Ltd.) | Digital X-ray of vertebrates specimens and lake sediment cores |
| Photographic studio | Photographic equipment and lighting systems | Lighting systems and accompanying equipment for photography of a wide range of natural history specimens |
| 3D scanning and printing | ProJet CJP 660Pro Printer
| Digital scanning and printing of natural history objects |
| 3D scanning and printing | GoSCAN 3D Scanners (Models 20 and 50) | Digital scanning and printing of natural history objects |