Page Contents: Section | Significance | Background | Location & Dates | Taxonomic Contents | Documentation | Description of Collection | Collection Inventory | Collection Assets
Knudsen-Gorsline 1953–1955
Section Responsible for Processing
Polychaetes
Significance
Worms from Baja California.
Background
Jens Knudsen, a graduate student studying crabs under Dr. John Garth at the Allan Hancock Foundation, University of Southern California, made several trips to Baja California. On at least one trip he was accompanied by Donn Gorsline, a grad student in the Department of Geology, USC. Specimens they collected were brought back for the Allan Hancock Foundation collections. The Polychaete Section has field records of 70 sites where Knudsen collected worms in September 1953 and January-February 1955. Dr. Olga Hartman first identified them to family, genus, or species level. Later, Dr. Kristian Fauchald re-identified them to species. The publications resulting from his thesis concentrated on families with jaws (Onuphidae, Eunicidae, Lumbrineridae, Iphitimidae, Arabellidae, Lysaretidae, Dorvilleidae) and deep water species. Most of the Knudsen-Gorsline specimens have not been cited.
Collection Location and Dates
Pacific and Gulf coasts of Baja California, Mexico. September 1953 and January-February 1955.
Taxonomic Contents
Polychaetes. (Crustaceans and possibly specimens from other phyla also at the NHMLAC.)
Documentation
Electronic spreadsheet with station data and original paper data sheets held in the Polychaete Office.
Description of Collection
Wet preserved collection. Specimens originally fixed in 5% formalin, later rinsed in fresh water, and transferred in 70% ethanol. After identification by Hartman and Fauchald they were put into separate vials. These were placed into taxa jars and incorporated into the general collection while at AHF.
Collection Inventory
Approximately 450 individuals lots.
Collection Assets
No collection assets available.