meth_1.22 Water sampling for Bush Blitz DNP

Standard operating procedures (SOP) for Bush Blitz water sampling

General comments:

Each sampling event requires one sample ID, no replicates are taken

For each sampling event, please measure and note the following parameters:

  • Longitude and latitude of sampling site in decimal degrees
  • Time and data in the format dd:mm:yyyy hh:mm
  • Depth in metres

 

Equipment list

  • Water sampler or 20 L bucket
  • 2L sterile containers
  • 1L sterile containers
  • Sterivex filters (for microbial sampling)
  • Peristaltic pump system
  • Data sheets
  • Labelling markers
  • Ziplock bags

 

SOP for sampling of seawater for DNA extraction and chem analysis.

  1. Wash a ~20 L bucket in bleach and in sample water at least five times. Drop bucket/water sampler attached to a rope to ~2 m depth and retrieve.
  2. Chem samples: Decant 1L of sample into 1L bottles.  Samples are then frozen once returned to the laboratory. (-20ºC). Label them with the appropriate sample ID and send to CSBP for analysis.
  3. Microbial samples:
    1. Decant reaming site water to fill 2L bottle.   Using sterile peristaltic pump, filter 2 litres of seawater using a peristaltic pump onto a 0.22 micron sterivex filter. Use speeds of up to ~180 rpm. If the filter gets blocked before 2 litres are filtered, then note the volume filtered.
    2. When filteration is completed, disconnect the inlet and pump air through the filter for 1-2 min to remove any remaining liquid.
    3. Disconnect filter and label with the sample ID. Cap both ends of the sterivex filter. Place the filter in a ziplock bag.
    4. Freeze as soon as possible at -20oC and transfer to -80 oC when possible.