Collection Data

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

Tomales Bay 2003–2004

Section Responsible for Processing

MBC

Significance

In 2003 the National Park Service and Dr. Ted Grosholz (Bodega Marine Lab, UC Davis) organized a rapid assessment biodiversity survey for Tomales Bay, California. The goal was to establish a current inventory of invertebrate species found in the area. Results were incorporated into the Tomales Bay Biodiversity Inventory (http://tomalesbaylife.org/checklists.asp). Polychaete Collections Manager Leslie Harris & Research Associate Don Cadien were part of the field team. Selected inverts, mainly polychaetes & crustaceans, were brought back to NHMLAC to augment our research collections. Additional collections were made by Harris in 2004.

Background

Principle investigator: Ted Grosholz; project funded by the National Park Service.

Haney, T., and J. Martin. 2005. Nebalia kensleyi, a new species of leptostracan (Crustacea: Phyllocarida) from Tomales Bay, California. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 118(l):3-20. 2005.

Collection Location and Dates

Maps of the study area are at http://www.tomalesbaylife.org/maps.htm

Sampling was done in August 2003 and June 2004 and was primarily intertidal.

Taxonomic Contents

The collection is dominated by polychaetes and crustaceans, with a few lots belonging to other phyla.

Documentation

Harris' field notes are in the Polychaete Section. Electronic station and species lists are part of the MBPC database.

Description of Collection

All of the material is wet preserved. Most was fixed with 5-10% formalin, subsequently rinsed in distilled water, and transferred to 70% ethanol for long-term storage. Many crustaceans and molluscs were fixed in 70% ethanol and later transferred to fresh 70% ethanol. A few polychaetes and other taxa were fixed and kept in 95% ethanol for DNA analysis.

A voucher collection was made during 2003 and given to the National Park Service.

Polychaetes were field identified by Harris to genus or species level. The other invertebrates were usually sorted to class or order but some were field identified to species.

Material is currently in the Polychaete Section. After curation, non-polychaetes will be distributed to the appropriate sections.

Collection Inventory

Three hundred eight-five (385) lots of inverts were identified during the survey. Sixty three (63) lots were either given to the other taxonomists, designated as vouchers, or were in poor condition and discarded. Three hundred twenty-two (322) lots were preserved and brought back to NHMLAC in 2-ml and 5-ml plastic vials. Processing and incorporation into the collections is estimated to be completed June 2009. All of the material is wet preserved. Most was fixed with 5% formalin, rinsed later in distilled water, and transferred to 70% ethanol for long-term storage. Many crustaceans and molluscs were fixed in 70% ethanol and later transferred to fresh 70%. A few polychaetes and others were fixed and kept in 95% ethanol for DNA analysis.

A voucher collection was made during 2003 and given to the National Park Service.

Polychaetes were field identified by Harris to genus or species level. The other invertebrates were usually sorted to class or order but some were field identified to species and separated.

Lots are currently held in the Polychaete Section. After curation is completed, they will be distributed to appropriate sections.

Collection Assets

Date View or Retrieve File Information
11/24/2014 Retrieve [256.9 kB] Area map.
11/24/2014 View [1347.5 kB] Study area map.
11/24/2014 Retrieve [3254.5 kB] Haney, T.A. and J.M. Martin. 2005. Nebalia kensleyi, a new species of leptostracan (Crustacea: Phyllocarida) from Tomales Bay, California. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 111(1): 3-20.
04/28/2009 Retrieve [38.0 kB] Original raw data file.

Curatorial Status (Click to view)