Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Section Responsible for Processing (Top)
- MBPC
Significance (Top)
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Dr. Mary Sue Brancato (Resource Protection Specialist, NOAA-Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary) led 2 rapid assessment surveys of the Sanctuary coastline in 2001 and 2002. Twenty four taxonomists and 17 generalists/support personnel participated in the surveys, including NHMLAC Polychaete Collection Manager Leslie Harris who did field and laboratory identifications for both surveys.
The primary objective was to identify invasive species in different habitats along the 135 miles of shoreline within the sanctuary and Neah Bay, and to establish baseline conditions for that point in time. A second objective was to compile an inventory of native species in the intertidal area of the sanctuary to contribute to the species inventory and voucher collection of invertebrate and algae species within the Sanctuary. A third objective was to compare the information from the outer coast to that available for Puget Sound (Cohen et al. 1998), Hoods Canal and Willapa Bay, a coastal estuary to the south of the sanctuary (Cohen et al. 2001).
Due to tidal constraints and the logistics of sampling an extensive coastline which often required backpacking or boat trips for access, the two surveys were insufficient to cover the entire expanse of the Sanctuary. A third trip with the same core personnel is planned to fill in the gaps.
All polychaetes found during the 2 surveys were brought back for the museum by Harris. Unsorted debris and algal samples rich in polychaetes were brought back as well. Background (Top)
- Principle investigator was Dr. Mary Sue Brancato. Funding came from NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Organisms collected are housed at the home institutions of the respective taxonomists.
Collection Location and Dates (Top)
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A map of the OCNMS along with other information about the Sanctuary can be found here http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/welcome.html and here http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/pgallery/atlasmaps/images/oc_2000.jpg
An account of the surveys by Bracato etal (pp.29-35 & appendices) can be found in deRivera,C., etal, 2005. Broad-Scale Nonindigenous Species Monitoring along the West Coast in National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves Report to National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. 125 pp. The report can be downloaded from
http://montereybay.noaa.gov/research/techreport/derivera2005.pdf
Samples were collected in August 2001 and August 2002 from 18 main sites between Neah Bay and Point Grenville, Washington. They were taken from the intertidal, floating docks, or sediments directly below floating docks. Taxonomic Contents (Top)
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695 field identified lots were brought back by Harris.
655 lots are polychaetes. The remainder contained crustaceans (33 lots), molluscs (2), hydroids (1), plus 4 with mixed contents. There are approximately 2 dozen unsorted debris or algae-associated samples as well. Documentation (Top)
- Field notes, species lists, and electronic files are held by Harris in the Polychaete Section. Station information is available here from the Marine Biodiversity Processing Center database.
Description of Collection (Top)
- All samples were preserved wet, in either 5-10% formalin, 70% ethanol, or 95% ethanol. Polychaetes were field identified to species whenever possible. Some material has been further identified or verified at NHMLAC. The field separated lots are currently in the Polychaetes/MBPC office. After processing (transfer to museum quality glassware, labels, and fresh preservative) they will be shelved in the Polychaete Collection Room or given to the appropriate section. The unsorted lots are in the Polychaete Collection Room.
Collection Inventory (Top)
- 695 lots in 2-ml and 5-ml plastic vials held in vial racks. Approximately 2 dozen lots of unsorted material in 16-oz glass jars.
Collection Images (Top)
- No images available.
Specimen Condition (Top)
- No information available.
Container Condition (Top)
- No information available.
Label Condition (Top)
- No information available.
Label Content (Top)
- No information available.
Level of Taxonomic Identification (Top)
- No information available.
