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expeditions/CReefs 2006/Collection/Rubble
Census
of Marine Life, Census of Coral Reefs Expedition to
French Frigate Shoals (October 2006)
Rubble
Brushing
Lead
Scientist: Gustav Paulay
Target Habitats: Forereef, Reef Crest,
Backreef, Lagoonal Patch Reef, Intertidal Shoreline, La
Perouse, Arc shell reefs
Target Organisms: Mobile epifauna
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Elizabeth
and Amy brushing coral rubble. Photo:
Jim Maragos |
Description:
Brushing coral rubble is an effective method for collecting
small invertebrates that are either difficult to see because
they are cryptic or small, or are more efficiently collected
by brushing, because they are numerous. Coral rubble is
held over a basket lined with a fine screen and
gently brushed
with a soft brush, so that animals fall/swim off the rubble
into the basket. After brushing, the rubble is replaced
on the bottom in the same position that it was
found. Rubble
brushing is one of the most productive methods for collecting
invertebrates in the 1-10mm size range. In sites without
loose rubble, a surface area of no more than 50 square
meters may be lightly brushed and the small animals
that are dislodged
collected by sweeping with a 15 cm diameter, 1/4 mm mesh
net. Typically, such sampling results in collection of
less than 1/4 liter of dislodged algal fragments
and results in
minimal disturbance to the bottom. In some cases, sweeping
with a fine mesh net may also be substituted for the basket
while brushing rubble.
Crab
photo by Jody Martin, LA County Natural History Museum Back to collection methods
Additional resources
Ship
Logs:
Day-by-day
activities of the expedition.
Journals:
Daily
or semi-daily personal journal entries by
the particpants
in the expedition. These journals do not necessarily reflect
the positions of any of the agencies connected with this
project.
Interviews:
Interviews with expedition participants, scientists,
vessel crew, educators, etc.
Features:
Highlights or special information such as interesting
discoveries, articles or related research.
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