Page Contents: Section | Significance | Background | Location & Dates | Taxonomic Contents | Documentation | Description of Collection | Collection Inventory | Collection Assets
Tjarno Collection
Section Responsible for Processing
MBC
Significance
Many northern European species have been reported from the northeast Pacific. In many cases these reports actually refer to native species because existing literature is inadequate to distinguish between them and similar European species. This means that local biodiversity is underestimated and the biogeographical ranges of many species is overestimated. This collection was created to provide good comparative material that can be used to correctly identify species. Special emphasis was placed on obtaining polychaete worms. Specimens belonging to other phyla were also collected to help supplement the NHMLAC's holdings.
Background
Leslie Harris (NHMLAC Polychaete Collection Manager) spent a month at Tjarno Marine Laboratory, Sweden, (TML) at her own expense to collect this material. While there, she also obtained a small collections of identified specimens donated by the TML (courtesy of Mr. Hans G. Hansson), plus the personal collection of Dr. Arne Nygren (University of Goteborg, Sweden).
Collection Location and Dates
Samples were collected between 3 - 29 April 2002. The majority of samples were made in the immediate area around Tjarno and within a steep-walled marine canyon, known as the Kosterfjorden. Habitats included soft-bottom mud, intertidal rock walls,boat docks, Pomatoceros reefs, Zostera beds, and gravel beds dominated by ascidians, Laminaria, and red algae. Depths ranged from intertidal to 217 meters.
Taxonomic Contents
The collection overwhelmingly consists of polychaetes. Out of a total of 899 lots, 818 lots contain polychaetes, 39 lots crustaceans,12 lots echinoderms, 17 lots molluscs, and 12 lots with either miscellaneous phyla or mixed, unsorted organisms.
Documentation
Original notebooks, transcribed data sheets, photographic slides, scanned images, maps, and electronic files are kept by Leslie Harris (NHMLAC, Polychaete Office).
Description of Collection
The entire collection is ethanol preserved. As of 22 July 2002, all 899 lots are in their original preservatives, either 10% formalin, 70% ethyl alcohol, or 95% ethyl alcohol. No voucher collection exists. Most polychaete lots consist of one species each, although a few have mixed species. Lots containing other phyla generally have mixed species, and 3 or 5 have unsorted grab residue containing multiple phyla. The collection is currently in the Polychaete Office except for the echinoderms and unsorted samples which have been transferred to the Echinoderm Section.
Collection Inventory
899 lots, the majority in 2 ml plastic screw-cap vials, and the rest in 5 ml plastic screw-cap vials, 1 oz. Nalgene jars or 2 oz. whirl-paks.
Collection Assets
| Date | View or Retrieve | File Information |
|---|---|---|
| 11/29/2010 | Retrieve [186.5 kB] | Raw data file |