So many algae, so little time.
COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT
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Collections Management
• Permits are required to collect marine organisms in
Panama
– STRI is covered by a blanket marine collecting permit
• Land plant/subaerial algae requires different collecting permit
– Exporting preserved or live specimens requires separate
permits.
• Requirement of permitting is to provide duplicate specimen for
deposition at University of Panama
Autoridad Nacional
del Ambiente
– Co-ordinate sample export with course instructor if necessary
• Don’t over-collect, you’ll only waste time throwing out
rotten, smelly seaweed
• Collect sufficient material to preserve appropriately
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Collections Management
• Goals
– To be able to recall collection information
associated with each sample at a later date
(months, years, decades from now)
– Associate image data with specimens
– Produce meaningful products that someone else
can verify at any point in the future
– (10 collection days) x (20 collectors) x (10 specimens) = 2000 specimens!
3
Collections Management
• Record
– GPS
• When you arrive on site!
– Unique identification number for each specimen
using spreadsheet
• PASI09.BW-0001
• Do use leading zeros so that your spreadsheet will sort
properly
– PASI09.BW-0001, PASI09.BW-0002...
– Not PASI09.BW1, PASI09.BW10...
– Use drag option in Excel to fill down ID number column
– Fill in all corresponding fields
– Complete metadata sheet for image data
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Collections Management: Identification
• Identification may require multiple strategies
– Morphological examination of fresh material is
best
• Photomicrography is available in lab
• Image data will be transferred to iMac from 17:00-17:30
everyday by Will
• Obtain your images and associate them with your
collections ASAP
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Collections Management: Preservation
• Preservation is always required for
vouchering & later identification
– Herbarium
– Formalin
• 4-5% Formaldehyde solution in seawater from collection
site
• Formalin is not allowed on airplanes
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Leave specimens in Formalin for 24h
pour off excess into labeled waste container
transport wet specimens in nested bags, inside of sturdy container
Note: plan on formalin leaking...it always does
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Collections Management: Preservation
• Herbarium preparation
corrugated cardboard
felt blotter
newsprint
specimen
newsprint
felt blotter
corrugated cardboard
Data recorded in spreadsheet must
be recorded on herbarium sheet.
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Collections Management: PASI Goals
1. Contribute accurately identified specimens to BRS
Reference Collection
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Every species plate for field guide should have referenced
specimens
Left over material can be mounted and prepared fro
donation to UP
2. Contribute species records to BdT Biodiversity
Database
http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/bocas_database/search/kingdom/2/
3. Document the morphology of select species as part
of a series of photographic plates
Addressing these goals will promote your
understanding of tropical algal diversity
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Collections Management: Identification
• Identification may require multiple strategies
– Molecular Work (DNA Sequencing/Barcoding)
• Extraction of fresh material is best
• Integrity of DNA is preserved by rapid drying
– Non-formalin fixed herbarium specimens can be used
– Silica gel promotes rapid drying
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Collections Management: PASI Goals
• Contribute specimens and morphological
observations to class DNA Barcoding Project
• Hypotheses:
– H0: Species richness of taxon x as determined by
morphological examination is the same as determined by
molecular examination (sequencing of coxI mitochondrion
gene)
– Ha1: DNA barcoding of taxon x reveals cryptic (hidden)
diversity
• Morphologically identical specimens are genetically distinct
– Ha2: Morphological variability within taxon x conceals genetic
similarity
• Morphologically variable specimens are genetically identical
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Collections Management: PASI Goals
• Means of tracking information is absolutely essential
to reconcile
– Specimen records with field/lab image data
– Specimen records (i.e., morphology, ecological/geographic
distribution) with molecular data
• Ensure that your specimen records are updated daily
in the Excel spreadsheet
– Do not put specimens in press without logging or labeling
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Laboratory Maintenance
• Microscopes
– Always clean up seawater spills on microscopes
immediately
– Wipe down slide platform (compound scope) or glass base
(stereo scope) daily
– Replace dust cover
– Conserve slides/cover slips as best as possible
• Slide drying on your own table, not in common space next to
sink
• Broken/used slides/cover slips in glass waste
• Lab tables
– Keep workspace clean
– Return literature to literature table when not in use
• Use fans overnight to facilitate herbarium drying
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Laboratory Maintenance
• Sea Water Tables
– Keep your specimens in labeled containers/bags
• May be hard to keep track of free-floating specimens
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Change water in baggies at least daily
Don’t hold specimens for more than 1-2 days, maximum
Get rid of old specimens (not in trash)
Re-use collection baggies, organize conveniently
• Waste bucket will be established in lab, ensure it is
emptied at least once/day
• Spills
– Clean them up
– Try to avoid electrical outlets
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Collections Management: Field Photography
• 4 cameras are available for in situ
photography
– Canon PowerShot 720
– Canon underwater housing (WP-DC16)
rated to 130’
• Orientation to field Cameras will be
given by Brian
• Image data will be deleted from
cards before going into field
• Each user is responsible for
downloading data, and deleting
card memory before returning to
camera
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Collections Management: Field Photography
• Work in pairs to photo-document
selected specimens
– Photograph # on numbered collection
bag (to segregate image data by
specimen)
– Photograph specimen (multiple images)
– Place photographed specimen into
numbered bag
– 1 specimen/bag
– Ultimately, you will need to generate
image file name and link it to specimen
number in metadata spreadsheet
– Linking specimen number to file name
is useful
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Delegations
• Field Cameras
• Lab Cameras
• Water tables
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