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SOP7 – Live Organisms >50 μm
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8.0. SOP 7 – Live Organisms >50 µm
Version 2.0
Date of Issuance: July 03, 2012
Author: Darrick Sparks, George Smith
8.1.
Overview
The setup for the control and treated samples is composed of a large overflow tank with two
sampling canisters inside with large spill-holes located near the top. Operation of the sampling
system and sampling procedures are detailed in section 4. In short, one overflow tank (the
forward of the two) is designated for the forward (#2) ballast tank and the other services the aft
(#1) ballast tank. Each overflow tank has its own, labeled, sampling gear, hoses, and monitoring
equipment. Throughout testing, ensure the sets of equipment are separated to prevent cross
contamination and washed with fresh water after each use.
8.2. Live-Analysis
Materials and Supplies
Amount
Dissecting scope, such as Leica Wild MZ8 or
equivalent
1
Controllable-intensify fiber-optic light source
1
10 L bottom draining carboy
2 control; 2 treated
Labyrinth sorting trays, such as Bogorov or
equivalent
At least 1 for control; at least 1
for treated
3” diameter sieves, 35 µm max mesh size
1 control; 1 treated
Squirt bottles
1 control; 1 treated
Pre-labeled, 500 ml Nalgene wide-mouth sample
bottles
1 control; 1 treated
Small funnel
1 control; 1 treated
Probe for checking immobiles
1 control; 1 treated
Data sheets and pen
As needed
DC3-SD camera
1
Computer w. MicroCap image capture software
1
Stempel pipette
1 control; 1 treated
Notes: References for general zooplankton sorting instructions are in section 8.3 below. This
section will focus on live analysis providing data critical to know abundance of live organisms in
the >50 µm size-class in treated and control samples.
On discharge days, if treatment counts seem likely to fall below approximately 100 m
-3
, then the
sample must be counted in its entirety as opposed to counting a scaled subsample.
Live sample counts are recorded in real time by a DC3-SD C-mounted USB video camera
(ESPA Systems CO, LTD. www.espa.com.tw) attached to the scope. MicroCap v3.0 (ESPA
Systems CO, LTD. www.espa.com.tw) video capture software loaded on the computer records
the image from the scope to a video (AVI) file. Sample complexity may result in video recorded
in segments instead of a single file. When not in video capture mode, the software is able to