Page Contents: Section | Significance | Background | Location & Dates | Taxonomic Contents | Documentation | Description of Collection | Collection Inventory | Collection Assets Specimen Condition | Container Condition | Label Condition | Label Content | Level of Taxonomic Identification

East Africa 2004

Section Responsible for Processing

MBC

Significance

These collections were made specifically to provide material for destructive sampling in molecular analysis. Hence all material collected by this expedition was fixed and preserved in 95% ethanol. A few select samples were preserved in RNA Later.

Background

NSF funded sphaeromatid isopod project to R. Wetzer (PI). Expedition participants included N. L. Bruce, N. D. Pentcheff, and K. Omura. More detailed project information is available at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/showaward?award=0129317
http://isopods.nhm.org/

Collection Location and Dates

This East African Expedition to Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Mombasa (Kenya) - June and July 2004 involved intensive shore collecting on reef flats and diving on outer reefs. Greatest efforts were made at Murogo Reef, Bawi Island reef, and Ras Nungwi in Zanzibar and on the reef, lagoon, and shores from Ras Iwetine to Mtwapa in Kenya.

Taxonomic Contents

Collecting emphasis is mostly on peracarids and other crustaceans. Associated invertebrates, e.g., polychaetes, molluscs, echinoderms were also collected.

Documentation

All documentation is available electronically.

Description of Collection

Specimens are 95% ethanol preserved. Lots have been sorted for isopods (most have been removed for molecular work). Unsorted samples are retained in the MBPC collection space in the Polychaete Range (basement) with other expeditionary collections.

Collection Inventory

There are 409 lots from 115 stations mostly contained in 4-8 oz. jars. and occupying ca. 3 linear feet of shelf space.

Collection Assets

Date	View or Retrieve	File Information
08/05/2008	View [205.1 kB]	Portunid crab. Photo by K. Omura.
08/05/2008	View [295.2 kB]	Vials with brachyuran crabs. Photo by K. Omura.
08/05/2008	View [645.9 kB]	Vials with crustaceans. Photo by K. Omura.
08/05/2008	View [196.2 kB]	Brachyuran crab. Photo by K. Omura.

Curatorial Status (Click to view)

Specimen Condition

Date	4: New alcohol needed immediately (specimens will otherwise be irreparably damaged)	3: Containers need to be 'topped off'	2: New alcohol needed within next 6-12 months	1: No curation needed at present
09/09/2004	0%	0%	0%	100%

Container Condition

Date	4: Immediate short-term (less than 5 years) storage container replacement needed. Present containers are inadequate. Curate in the short-term with plastic buckets, whirltop bags, or similar.	3: Specimens contained in museum-grade long-term (greater than 5 years) storage containers. Jars need new closures (e.g. replace Bakelite and metal lids).	2: Transfer to museum-grade long-term storage containers. Replace or transfer to new jars and glass vials, replace cotton and closures.	1: Containers are museum-grade and meet highest curation standards.
09/09/2004	0%	0%	0%	100%

Label Condition

Date	4: New labels needed immediately (original labels in poor condition, paper torn/worn, legibility poor).	3: New labels needed within next 1-2 years (original labels beginning to wear, pencil writing fading, low quality paper was used).	2: New labels needed are as a result of curation and accretion of collection.	1: No new labels needed at present.
09/09/2004	0%	0%	0%	100%

Label Content

Date	2: New label or additional label needed because original label data is incomplete and supporting documentation provides additional collection data which greately enhances significance and value of each lot.	1: Label content complete. All collection data are contained on label.
09/09/2004	0%	100%

Level of Taxonomic Identification

Date	7: Not identified	6: Phylum	5: Class	4: Order	3: Family	2: Genus	1: Species
09/09/2004	10%	90%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%