8. Aquatic and Marine Invertebrates

8.1 Voucher Requirements

Diversity Inventory

• Submit at least one specimen for each species collected per locality. All species from a single collection locality should be divided into lots and placed in glass jars. A lot consists of one or more specimens of one taxonomic level identified in the associated report, from a single locality. If identified to species, each vial or jar should contain only one species from one locality. In the case of very small organisms, it is preferable to submit more than one specimen of each species.
• Microscope slides may be submitted as vouchers for some taxa providing they are permanent mounts and the specimen can be identified from the slide.

8.2 Data Needs

• Required data fields: Field collection number; Collector; Collection date; Location (gazetteered name and Latitude and Longitude or UTM); Elevation (m) and/or depth (m); Collection method (capture method); Genus; Species; Determiner; Determination date.
• Label data required: Field collection number; Collection date; Genus; Species; Location with Latitude and Longitude or UTM.
• All specimens should have taxonomic data with identification to the lowest level possible using available keys and ability of collector. Confirmations are preferred. Taxonomic data should include:
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species
• Species Authority (e.g., Scheltema, 1997)
• Determiner name (person who identified the specimen)
• Determination date (year, month, day)
• Age (adult, larva, juvenile, egg)

8.3 Preparation and Care of Specimens

For detailed protocol see Green and Lambert (1994).

Killing and Fixing

• Anaesthetize soft bodied invertebrates to prevent contraction and distortion of specimens. As this method changes drastically depending on taxa, contact the Royal BC Museum's collection manager for details on relaxing the animals that are to be collected.
• Sort specimens as far as possible and place in appropriate sized jars. Pack specimens loosely so that fixative can freely circulate (approximately space use, 30% specimen and 70% fixative).
• Fix specimens in neutralized 10% buffered formalin. The length of time that specimens should be fixed varies with the size of the specimen. Each major taxon of invertebrates requires a special method that is ideal for that group. Ethanol (70%) can also be used depending on taxa. See references listed below for details.
• Sponges should not be fixed in formalin because the silicious spicules of Hexactinellida will dissolve. Use 70% ethanol instead.
• Place a field label in the jar. Each label must have the field collection number, date, descriptive location and location coordinates (latitude/longitude or UTM) as a minimum.
• For zooplankton, disconnect the cod-end from the plankton tow net and carefully decant the water and plankton into a pre-labelled bottle. To ensure that all plankton are collected, rinse the cod-end several times, pouring each rinsate into the bottle. The sample is then fixed by adding 10% buffered formalin (10 ml for each 90 ml of sample volume). Plankton lots should be transferred to isopropanol (IPA) or ethanol after approximately 24 hours in formalin.

Storage

The specimens must be housed in vials or jars which fit the following specifications, in order to fit standard storage units:

• Vials may not be smaller than 2 drams. The diameter of a vial may not exceed 21 mm and the height (with cap or stopper) may not exceed 90 mm.
• Vial caps must have a cone-shaped polyethylene liner. Vials with neoprene stoppers are not acceptable.
• Specimens too large to fit into vials are stored in jars (below).
• Jar lids should be made of polypropylene and have a flat polyethylene liner.

Preservation

• After fixation, small specimens are transferred to 70% ethyl alcohol or 60% isopropanol.
• The ethanol/isopropanol is changed at least once after collection. If the fluid discolours after that, the alcohol continues to be changed until the fluid remains clear.
• Specimens should not occupy more than 30% of the volume of a vial or jar.
• Specimens are sorted so that all specimens within a vial or jar have the same collection data and taxonomic data as listed in the Data Needs section.