PLANKTON SAMPLING
Instructions plankton sampling_v0
april 2009
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLANKTON SAMPLINGBy Mar Valls, handledare
Marinbiologi and Naturkunskap, april 2009When: the sampling is to
be done any time we can stop the ship or when its scheduled
according to schedule_plankton_sampling.doc,. If there is any
possibility to sample near the coast or from the shore we also take
the chance.
4-6 students will be responsible for the sampling with the
phytoplankton net. Each time you sample you need to fill in the
form report_plankton_samples.doc. This is to be done by one of the
students that are responsible for the sampling.
Some guidelines:
1. Prepare in advance all the equipment in order to loose as
less sailing time as possible, and dont take more time than
necessary during the sampling. Make sure you are ready to throw the
net when the officer on watch tells you that the ship is ready
(max. 1 knot of speed).
2. Where: throw the net from the aft and in the side opposite to
the one towards the ship is drifting (ask the officer on watch
which is the right side). Avoid hitting the hul with the shackles
by using a rope to lower them!3. Put the line around the bullard
and lower the net progressively, giving more line as the net sinks.
Fast the line in the bollard when the red mark arrives at the side
of the ship.4. Keep the net into the water for 2 minutes
approx.
5. Take note of the angle between the line and the side of the
ship in order to calculate the real depth of sampling (see how to
calculate the depth in calcul_depth_plankton_sampling.xls)6. Take a
picture of the sample.
7. Mark the sample bottle with the corresponding sampling
code
8. Fill in the form report_plankton_samples.doc(all the data
must be filled in!) and send a copy by email to the handledare.9.
Conserve the sample in the fridge (correctly identified) for
observing lateron (if observing is to be done after 4 days, keep
the sample in the freezer)
10. Look at the sample in the microscope and stereoscope and
describe/ draw it. With the help of identification guides, try to
identify the organisms (at the level you can: phyla, class, order,
genre or species)
