standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
Biological communities
One participant questioned the lower size limit of 32 microns
proposed for the meiofauna category, stating that while it might be
appropriate for some environments such as the deep sea, such a small
sieve size was difficult to work with and contractors would find it much
easier to shift up to 45 µm. This comment was based on experiments on
sieve size carried out in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ), in
which the smaller size had been found to be unnecessary.
Mr. Lenoble responded that the LTC regarded this as a provisional
recommendation that might change as a result of scientific observation and
technological developments. Commission members had noted differences
in the scientific literature over the distinction between meiofauna and
megafauna; the borderline might differ according to species or the
techniques used. The LTC sought to define a general philosophy, leaving
such matters as choice of techniques and depth of core sampling to the
scientific community and the Workshop.
The absence of any mention of voucher collections for resolving
taxonomic problems was noted. Voucher collections were defined as sets
of animal specimens maintained by curatorial institutions and available for
general use as standards to identify species, much like the standard metre
kept in Paris. A participant observed that describing animals by their
structure could be supplemented by molecular genetic techniques, which
could help biologists know that what one group identified as species A at
one site was the same species found elsewhere, thus clarifying its range.
Lenoble observed that such matters were beyond the expertise of
contractors, who would have to rely on specialists with their own links to the
world scientific communities and their knowledge of international practices.
As the recommendations specified, contractors had to make use of the best
available methodology when collecting data. He suggested that the
Workshop make recommendations about international cooperation to deal
with the problem of taxonomy, a specialized area outside the province of
the Authority.
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 48