Introduction from the “Front End”Introduction from the “Front End”

30 Years of Archiving MMS Marine Invertebrates at the 30 Years of Archiving MMS Marine Invertebrates at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian National Museum of Natural History

First: Why does MMS collect samples from the oceans?First: Why does MMS collect samples from the oceans?

To identify what kinds of animals live there,To identify what kinds of animals live there,Determine the sensitivity of each kind of biological community,Determine the sensitivity of each kind of biological community,Allows management decisions on how to best protect the environment Allows management decisions on how to best protect the environment

from possible impacts of offshore energy developmentfrom possible impacts of offshore energy development

You have to know what is there and how each part of all ocean habitats You have to know what is there and how each part of all ocean habitats interact with each other so the environment can be protectedinteract with each other so the environment can be protected

Scientific Research on the Oceans Scientific Research on the Oceans is Not Easyis Not Easy

Research VesselsResearch Vessels

SubmersiblesSubmersibles

Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs)Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs)

Ocean Science is DifficultOcean Science is Difficult• Due to remoteness/water depth/weatherDue to remoteness/water depth/weather• Time ConsumingTime Consuming• Very expensiveVery expensive• High level of expertise needed at every stageHigh level of expertise needed at every stage

Quick introduction to some of the methods Quick introduction to some of the methods used to obtain invertebrate samplesused to obtain invertebrate samples

Box CoresBox Cores

TrawlsTrawls

WinchesWinches

Sampling from the SurfaceSampling from the Surface

Box CoresBox Cores

Typically ¼ or ½ meter squareTypically ¼ or ½ meter square For sampling of soft sediment seabedFor sampling of soft sediment seabed Mud sieved for “infauna: or animals Mud sieved for “infauna: or animals

that live buried in the sedimentthat live buried in the sediment

Two major size categories Two major size categories of sediment infaunaof sediment infauna

(larger than bacteria)(larger than bacteria)

Macrofauna from larger portion of box core Larger than 300 microns = 3/10 millimeter

Meiofauna from smaller sub-cores between 62 and 300 microns Just 2/1000th of an inch

TrawlsTrawls

Typically use common otter Typically use common otter trawl similar to ones used trawl similar to ones used for shrimpfor shrimp

Starfish, shrimp and sea cucumbers from 3,900 ft

Foot long “pill bug” Bathynomous from 4,360 ft

WinchesWinches

Typical winch speed about 50 meters Typical winch speed about 50 meters per minute up and downper minute up and down

Deepest part of Gulf of MexicoDeepest part of Gulf of Mexico3,800 m = 12,464 feet3,800 m = 12,464 feet

Time for one 30 minute trawl at Time for one 30 minute trawl at 3,800 meters = Over 7 hours3,800 meters = Over 7 hours

Single vertical box core drop to Single vertical box core drop to 3,000 m = Over 2 hours3,000 m = Over 2 hours

Sometimes a deep-sea trawl comes up empty!Sometimes a deep-sea trawl comes up empty!Sometimes a box core “washes out” at the Sometimes a box core “washes out” at the

surfacesurface

Requires starting all over againRequires starting all over again

and Expensive!and Expensive!

Large research vessel aloneLarge research vessel alone

R/V Melville Scripps InstitutionR/V Melville Scripps Institution

$39,000/day$39,000/day

ROV Jason and crewROV Jason and crew

$10,000/day$10,000/day

R/V Atlantis II and Alvin submersibleR/V Atlantis II and Alvin submersible

$60,000/day$60,000/day

A National TreasureA National Treasure All of the MMS studies resulting in archive samples at All of the MMS studies resulting in archive samples at

the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History took years to complete.took years to complete.

Each project was a tremendous effort by dozens of Each project was a tremendous effort by dozens of scientists.scientists.

The resulting sample collections represent a national The resulting sample collections represent a national treasure of biological knowledge that would be treasure of biological knowledge that would be impossible to replace.impossible to replace.

These MMS studies have enabled informed protection of These MMS studies have enabled informed protection of the environment while providing invaluable collections to the environment while providing invaluable collections to the U.S. and the rest of the world.the U.S. and the rest of the world.