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6177468 
Journal Article 
Review 
Accuracy of body mass estimates of formalin-preserved fish - a review 
Nordeide, JT 
2020 
Yes 
Journal of Fish Biology
ISSN: 0022-1112
EISSN: 1095-8649 
WILEY 
HOBOKEN 
96 
2 
288-296 
English 
31591710 
WOS:000511460200002 
This paper highlights possible effects of physical and chemical mechanisms of formalin fixation and preservation on biological tissue and reviews the consequent potential inaccuracies on estimates of body mass of small fishes fixed and preserved in formalin. Twenty-six papers including 65 independent experiments with 35 species which examine effects of formalin on body mass estimates on small fishes are included. The effect of the formalin on the specimens depends on the salinity of the water used to dilute the commercial formalin (usually 1:9 formalin: water) before being used to fixate and preserve fish. Mean wet body mass of the specimens from the studies using seawater or fresh water diluted formalin deceases by 13% and increases by 7%, respectively, from before to after being immersed in formalin. The same trend is found with condition factor in the few papers that report this parameter. Body length decreases on average by c. 2% in fixated and preserved fish regardless of whether the formalin is diluted in seawater or fresh water. 
Biology--Zoology; condition factor; fixation; formaldehyde; preservation; Body mass; Seawater; Organic chemistry; Body length; Inland water environment; Dilution; Fresh water; Body size; Estimates; Tissues; Sea water