Collection Data

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

Derek Ellis, University of Victoria

Section Responsible for Processing

MBC

Significance

This collection results from the benthic ecology studies of Dr. Derek Ellis and his graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Victoria. Peer reviewed papers and graduate theses have resulted from their work and some copies are associated with the documentation material which accompanied the collection upon its arrival at the LACNHM. The collection was brought to LACNHM by Leslie Harris and Dr. Ellis between 1997 and 1999.

Background

The collection components include:
1. Samples from the Island Copper Mine (ICM) site both before the mine started dumping tailings and during the early years of mine operations.

2. Reference specimens collected in southern British Columbia waters, e.g., as Macoma elimata used while describing the species (see Dunnill and Coan. 1968. A new species of the genus Macoma (Pelecypoda) from west American waters, with comments on Macoma calarea (Gmelin 1791). National Museum of Canada Natural History Papers No. 43, 19pp.).

3. Orca Island, Washington samples collected by Betsy Day. These collections are a 5-year time series of sampling stations previously sampled 50 years earlier by the Shelford Weese survey.

4. A single sample (sample no. 66/2/4) from Tasu Sound on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Other samples from northern British Columbia may be available, but are presently not part of the NHMLAC collections.

Collection Location and Dates

Most of the collections were taken by grab sampler on subtidal soft bottoms.

Taxonomic Contents

The specimens lots range from identified to species, family or phlyum. Some lots remain completely unsorted.

Documentation

This collection resides in the NHMLAC Polychaete Collection Range. The collection has been consolidated into about 700 jars on 5 shelving banks. There are data sheets and a few published reports located in the NHMLAC Polychaete office.

Description of Collection

The specimens were most likely originally fixed in 5-10% formalin and subsequently transferred to 70% ethanol.

Collection Inventory

The collection consists of about 15,000 specimens representing an estimated 500 species mostly from around southern Vancouver Island.

Collection Assets

Date View or Retrieve File Information
11/15/2001 View [963.6 kB] Bivalve molluscs in jar.
11/15/2001 View [938.5 kB] Unsorted sample.
09/04/2001 View [4069.3 kB] Map of Ellis’ study sites and collection localities.

Curatorial Status (Click to view)