Specimens from zoological collections play a pivotal role in improving scientific knowledge in many natural science disciplines. To guarantee an optimum state of conservation and ensure their usefulness, the preparation process employed is crucial. Skins and skeletons are key elements in vertebrate scientific collections and, ideally, are prepared from recently deceased animals; however, specimens are often stored in a frozen state for a long time (years) prior to preparation. Whether the duration of this frozen state has a deleterious effect on preparation quality has rarely been studied. The main objective of this study was thus to contribute towards research into zoological preparation by testing to see whether prolonged frozen storage hinders the preparation of bird skins and skeletons. We used the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and the barn owl (Tyto alba) as biological models. Our results showed that long-term frozen storage led to weight loss, bone marrow acidification and solidification, and hampered skin preparation. The necropsy affected weight loss and decreased the skin tear resistance, probably due to tissue dehydration. Thus, prolonged frozen storage appears to have a harmful effect on the preparation quality of vertebrate specimens. Since frozen storage could ultimately have an impact on the conservation and scientific use of museum specimens, practices should be implemented to minimise the amount of time specimens are frozen or to mitigate any detrimental effects. More importance should be attached to research on zoological preparation since it is fundamental for optimising the quality, conservation status, and value of museum collections.

在许多自然科学学科中，来自动物学采集的标本在提高科学知识方面起着举足轻重的作用。为了确保最佳的保存状态并确保其有效性，所用的制备过程至关重要。皮肤和骨骼是脊椎动物科学收藏中的关键元素，理想情况下，它们是从新近死亡的动物中制备的；但是，标本通常在制备前以冷冻状态保存很长一段时间（几年）。很少研究这种冷冻状态的持续时间是否对制剂质量具有有害影响。因此，本研究的主要目的是通过测试长期冷冻储存是否会阻碍鸟类皮肤和骨骼的制备，从而为动物学的制备做出贡献。我们使用了普通的秃鹰（eo（Buteo buteo）和谷仓猫头鹰（Tyto alba）作为生物学模型。我们的结果表明，长期冷冻保存会导致体重减轻，骨髓酸化和凝固以及皮肤准备受阻。尸检影响体重减轻并降低了皮肤抗撕裂性，这可能是由于组织脱水所致。因此，长时间的冷冻保存似乎对脊椎动物标本的制备质量具有有害作用。由于冷冻存储最终可能会影响博物馆标本的保存和科学使用，因此应采取措施尽量减少标本的冷冻时间或减轻任何不利影响。应更加重视动物生态学的研究，因为这对于优化博物馆馆藏的质量，保护状况和价值至关重要。