Collection Data

Page Contents: Section | Significance | Background | Location & Dates | Taxonomic Contents | Documentation | Description of Collection | Collection Inventory | Collection Assets

Mineral Management Service / CARP

Section Responsible for Processing

MBC

Significance

This survey was conducted to increase knowledge of the marine benthic habitat of northern and central coastal/nearshore California, i.e., "Outer Continental Shelf Planning" areas. The results of this study formed the basis for assessments and management decisions associated with the potential leasing, exploration and development of oil and gas resources.

Background

This study was supported by Minerals Management Service under contract number 14-12-0001-30388. The work was carried out by Science Applications International Corporation & MEC Analytical Systems, Inc.

Principle Investigators:
Dr. Andrew Lissner - Science Applications International Corporation
Dr. Douglas Diener - MEC Analytical Systems, Inc.
Dr. Robert Kanter - MEC Analytical Systems, Inc.

Principle Taxonomists:
Larry Lovell (Polychaeta), Doug Diener (Crustacea), John Ljubenkov (Mollusca, Echinodermata, Others)

Dr. Gordon Hendler acquired the collection on behalf of the museum.

Collection Location and Dates

The original field survey was conducted in November/December 1987 in the Eel River, Point Arena, Bodega, and Santa Cruz Basins. The northern-most station was north Crescent City (41infinity56.63’N, 124infinity26.97’W), the southern-most was north of Santa Cruz 37infinity04.67’N, 122infinity44.02’W. An east-west transect was sampled at depths of approximately 100, 200, 400, 600 m at each station. Actual depths ranged from 91-607 m at the northern sites and 93-578 m at the central areas. Epilithic organisms were removed in the lab from rocks collected during a photoquadrant survey of the transects. Benthic infaunal samples were collected using a 0.1m square Gray-O'Hara box corer. Core samples were collected using either a 0.1m square Smith-MacIntyre grab or a 0.25m square box corer. Field samples were fixed in 5% formalin/seawater, rinsed in fresh water after a couple of days, and transferred to 70% ethanol. Organisms retained by 0.5 mm & 1.0 mm sieves were identified to the lowest possible identification level (LPIL). Material caught on 0.3 mm sieves was left unsorted and stored after transfer to 70% ethanol.

Taxonomic Contents

Cnidaria – 38 taxa
Platyhelminthes – 12 taxa
Nemertea – 23 taxa
Kinorhyncha – 1 taxa
Nematoda – 1 taxon
Polychaeta - 286 taxa
Mollusca – 169 taxa
Crustacea – 256 taxa
Sipuncula – 11 taxa
Echiura – 6 taxa
Phoronida – 1 taxon
Ectoprocta – 4 taxa
Brachiopoda – 2 taxa
Echinodermata – 35 taxa
Chaetognatha – 1 taxon
Urochordata – 2 taxa

Documentation

A single blue, three ring binder labeled MMS CARP is located in Leslie Harris' office (Polychaetes). The binder contains station and taxonomic data as well as maps of study areas. Station information available for hard bottom subtrates include: bottom depth, temperature, and salinity. Soft bottom stations include more abiotic and biotic parameters than hard bottom samples. Soft bottom samples include biomass, taxonomic information, and more.

Description of Collection

The collection arrived in 25 boxes. The majority of the specimens were polychaetes (10 boxes), followed by crustaceans (3 boxes), molluscs, (3 boxes), echinoderms (2 boxes), and other phyla (2 boxes). The remaining 5 boxes held approximately 250 jars of unsorted 0.3 mm sediment. Jars ranged in size from 8 oz. to 1 gallon and held a varying number of vials in each. The typical 32 oz. jar held 45 vials.

Collection Inventory

Upon arrival in September 1989 the collection was split and distributed to the appropriate sections. The miscellaneous phyla and unsorted samples were stored in the Polychaete Collection Room survey area. Polychaetes were re-jarred by taxon, screw-tops were removed from the vials and replaced with cotton, and jar labels added before the samples were transferred to taxon shelves. Alcohol was most recently topped off or replaced as necessary in 2009.

Until September 2005 the crustaceans were located on the north wall, between "echinoderm collection" carriages P and Q in the Crustacea Collection Room. There were 36, 32 oz. straight jars filled with screw-capped vials, ~ 45 vials per jar, occupying ca. 1.5 shelves. It was recurated September 2005. Specimens were transferred to new cotton stoppered vials, jar labels were inserted to identify the material as belonging to this collection, and specimens were shelved in appropriate areas of the collection room by taxonomic group.

Molluscs and echinoderms were processed according to the standards of each section.

Collection Assets

Date View or Retrieve File Information
10/15/2014 Retrieve [6634.6 kB] This report has the station data for the CARP samples collected by MEC in 1987. 1of2.
10/15/2014 Retrieve [8787.1 kB] This report has the station data for the CARP samples collected by MEC in 1987. 2of2.
03/02/2007 View [361.0 kB] Material after curation.
08/24/2005 View [227.5 kB] Material before processing.
08/24/2005 View [224.6 kB] Material before processing.
08/24/2005 Retrieve [129677.4 kB] Biological reconnaissance of selected benthic habitats within three California OCS planning areass, Data Report, November 1988. 56 pages
// Visit MMS CARP stations

Curatorial Status (Click to view)