The Effectiveness of Various Concentrations of Alcohol as Preservative of Bamboo Shells (Ensis leei) and Blood Clams (Anadara granosa)

Abstract

Laboratory activities and/or field practicum activities are one of the important activities. Preservation of specimens is
an activity that is often carried out. Preservation of specimens is intended to maintain the condition of living things as
they are in nature and their morphological structure (only slight changes) and free from bacteria and fungi that can
cause decay. Bivalves are one of the best-preserved laboratory specimens. Bivalves that are often encountered in the
field include blood clams (Anadara granosa) and bamboo shells (Ensis leei). Preservation of bivalves was carried out
by dry preservation method and wet preservation using 70% alcohol. The purpose of this study was to determine the
effectiveness of various concentrations of alcohol preservative solution for bivalves specimens. The research stages
included dilution of alcohol solutions with various concentrations (90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, and 70%), bivalves
sampling, preservation of bivalves samples in the laboratory, care and observation of bivalves specimens. The
effectiveness of the alcohol solution was seen from the turbidity of the alcohol and the morphology of the bivalves.
The data were analysed by quantitative descriptive method. The results of this study alcohol with a concentration of
70% effectively used as a preservative for blood clams and bamboo shells.