Record-Keeping Data for Settled Juvenile and Adult Samples

With all samples taken, the same record-keeping format should be used from year to year - the format can be tailor-designed for a site or facility.

Record-Keeping Guidelines

• Record the time, date, and location of the sample.
• Deploy samplers at a variety of locations.
• For sampling of settled juveniles:
  • Use settlement samplers with coupons and locate approximately 3 m beneath the surface.
  • Retrieve coupons at once-per-week intervals for analysis of settlement time, rate, and growth.
• Record the type and concentration of fixative used to preserve the sample.
• For sampling of adults:
  • Use artificial or natural substrate samplers.
  • For analysis of multiple layer colonization, use a coring device to retrieve samples.
• Report the density of mussel coverage.
• Keep accurate count information including the following:
  • Date of count.
  • Sample number.
  • Mean size information.
  • Immersion time of substrate.
  • Retrieval date of substrate.
  • Number of juveniles per 1 cm^².
  • Number of adults per 10 cm^².
  • Height and weight of core samples.
• Record the following habitat information:
  • Water temperature at surface and sample depth.
  • Photic zone depth.
  • Substrate constitution and location.
  • Velocity of water.
  • Salinity and calcium content.
  • Dissolved oxygen content.
  • pH and hardness of water.
  • Conductivity.

See the Monitoring of Settled Juveniles and Adults section for further information on obtaining and analyzing data.

Monitoring Contents

Importance of Maintaining Long-Term Records of Monitoring Data