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1999 Projects: ROV improvementsDetritus sampler developmentProject lead/manager: Kim
Reisenbichler As a group, larvaceans are one of the most widespread and abundant of gelatinous marine animals in Monterey Bay. Their feeding filters— composed of mucous and periodically abandoned by the animals when they become clogged—sink to the seafloor, transporting considerable quantities of particulate matter downward in the process. To effectively assess the role of larvacean feeding structures as accelerators of the vertical flux of organic material through the water column, we must be able to recover intact, discarded structures for laboratory analysis. Samplers currently used at MBARI to capture such specimens are too small to reliably collect the relatively large structures. Also, the sample containers have been prone to leakage, which results in the recovery of incomplete samples. Under this project we will determine the requirements for optimal sample collection and modify the current sampler design to enable it to meet the necessary specifications. The resulting device will enable us to collect complete larvacean filter structures, as well as delicate organisms too large for collection with our current samplers. Next: Toolsled interface adaptor Last updated: 07 October 2004 |
