Drying Technology And Its Effect On The Preservation Of Living Specimens In The Iraq Natural History Museum

Abstract

This study highlights an age-old preservation technique still commonly employed in many science museums: drying. This method is particularly prevalent in natural history museums for conserving biological specimens—ranging from plants and animals to tiny microscopic organisms, regardless of their size. Although drying is effective in maintaining the general structure of specimens, it can sometimes alter their original shape. Drying methods vary: direct drying is used for plant parts and insects, while indirect drying involves preserving body parts such as animal hides, feathers, or fur after mummification.

Different drying approaches include traditional air drying—where specimens are left at room temperature away from sunlight—freeze-drying (lyophilization), and chemical drying. The latter involves the use of chemical substances to remove moisture while maintaining the specimen’s form and flexibility, as seen in the plasticization process.

The study’s theoretical framework is organized into two main parts: the first explores the use of temperature and humidity sensing technologies for monitoring museum environments, and the second addresses ideal climate conditions within natural history museums. The researcher examined significant previous studies related to temperature regulation and its effects on preserved biological specimens. The third section presents practical case studies from the Iraqi Natural History Museum, analyzing a range of preserved organisms. In the final section, the study offers key findings and recommendations, including suggested temperature and humidity levels and proposals for integrating modern environmental control methods.