So many algae, so little time. COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT

COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENTCOLLECTIONS MANAGEMENTSo many algae, so little time.

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COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENTCOLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT

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Collections ManagementCollections Management

• Permits are required to collect marine organisms in PPanama– 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– Co-ordinate sample export with course instructor if necessary

D ’t ll t ’ll l t ti th i t

Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente

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• Don’t over-collect, you’ll only waste time throwing out rotten, smelly seaweed

• Collect sufficient material to preserve appropriately 2Collect sufficient material to preserve appropriately


• GoalsT b bl t ll ll ti i f ti– 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 futurecan verify at any point in the future– (10 collection days) x (20 collectors) x (10 specimens) = 2000 specimens!

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• Record GPS– 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 g y p

properly– PASI09.BW-0001, PASI09.BW-0002...– Not PASI09.BW1, PASI09.BW10...

Use drag option in Excel to fill down ID number column

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– Use drag option in Excel to fill down ID number column

– Fill in all corresponding fields– Complete metadata sheet for image data 4

Collections Management: IdentificationCollections Management: Identification

• Identification may require multiple strategies– Morphological examination of fresh material is

best• Photomicrography is available in labPhotomicrography 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• Obtain your images and associate them with your

collections ASAP

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Collections Management: PreservationCollections Management: Preservation

• Preservation is always required for h i & l t id tifi tivouchering & later identification

– HerbariumFormalin– Formalin

• 4-5% Formaldehyde solution in seawater from collection site

• Formalin is not allowed on airplanes– Leave specimens in Formalin for 24h– pour off excess into labeled waste container

t t t i i t d b i id f t d t i

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– transport wet specimens in nested bags, inside of sturdy container– Note: plan on formalin leaking...it always does

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Collections Management: PreservationCollections Management: Preservation

• Herbarium preparation

corrugated cardboard

f lt bl ttfelt blotter

newsprint

specimen

newsprint

7corrugated cardboard

felt blotter

Data recorded in spreadsheet must be recorded on herbarium sheet 7be recorded on herbarium sheet.

Collections Management: PASI GoalsCollections Management: PASI Goals

1. Contribute accurately identified specimens to BRS Reference CollectionReference Collection

– Every species plate for field guide should have referenced specimens

– Left over material can be mounted and prepared froLeft over material can be mounted and prepared fro donation to UP

2. Contribute species records to BdT Biodiversity DatabaseDatabase

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

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of a series of photographic plates

Addressing these goals will promote your understanding of tropical algal diversity 8understanding of tropical algal diversity

Collections Management: IdentificationCollections 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 dryingIntegrity of DNA is preserved by rapid drying

– Non-formalin fixed herbarium specimens can be used– Silica gel promotes rapid drying

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• Contribute specimens and morphological observations to class DNA Barcoding Projectobservations to class DNA Barcoding Project

• Hypotheses:– H0: Species richness of taxon x as determined by

morphological examination is the same as determined bymorphological examination is the same as determined by molecular examination (sequencing of coxI mitochondrion gene)

– Ha1: DNA barcoding of taxon x reveals cryptic (hidden) a1 g yp ( )diversity

• Morphologically identical specimens are genetically distinct– Ha2: Morphological variability within taxon x conceals genetic

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similarity• Morphologically variable specimens are genetically identical

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• Means of tracking information is absolutely essential to reconcileto reconcile– Specimen records with field/lab image data – Specimen records (i.e., morphology, ecological/geographic

distribution) with molecular datadistribution) with molecular data

• Ensure that your specimen records are updated dailyi th E l d h tin the Excel spreadsheet– Do not put specimens in press without logging or labeling

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Laboratory MaintenanceLaboratory Maintenance

• MicroscopesAl a s clean p sea ater spills on microscopes– Always clean up seawater spills on microscopes immediately

– Wipe down slide platform (compound scope) or glass base (stereo scope) daily(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

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• Lab tables– Keep workspace clean– Return literature to literature table when not in use 12Return literature to literature table when not in use

• Use fans overnight to facilitate herbarium drying

Laboratory MaintenanceLaboratory Maintenance• Sea Water Tables

– Keep your specimens in labeled containers/bags– Keep your specimens in labeled containers/bags• May be hard to keep track of free-floating specimens

– Change water in baggies at least daily– Don’t hold specimens for more than 1-2 days maximum– 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• Waste bucket will be established in lab, ensure it is emptied at least once/day

• Spills

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– Clean them up– Try to avoid electrical outlets

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Collections Management: Field PhotographyCollections Management: Field Photography

• 4 cameras are available for in situphotographyphotography– Canon PowerShot 720– Canon underwater housing (WP-DC16)

rated to 130’

• Orientation to field Cameras will be given by Briangiven by Brian

• Image data will be deleted from cards before going into field

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• Each user is responsible for downloading data, and deleting card memory before returning to 14card memory before returning to camera

Collections Management: Field PhotographyCollections Management: Field Photography

• Work in pairs to photo-document selected specimensselected specimens– Photograph # on numbered collection

bag (to segregate image data by specimen)specimen)

– Photograph specimen (multiple images) – Place photographed specimen into

numbered bag– 1 specimen/bag– Ultimately, you will need to generate

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image file name and link it to specimen number in metadata spreadsheet

– Linking specimen number to file name 15is useful

DelegationsDelegations

• Field Cameras• Lab Cameras• Water tablesWater tables

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Documents

So many algae, so little time. COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT