standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

Discipline Category Parameter Methods/Equipment
Biology
Water column Phytoplankton Water samples collected in euphotic
and below-euphotic zones (to 150
m), preserved in plastic bottles using
formalin and Lygol’s iodine solution,
and concentrated for quantification
and identification
Zooplankton Water samples collected using
plankton net to 1000 m water
depth, preserved with concentrated
formalin for taxonomic
identification on shore
Primary productivity C-14 measurement
Benthos
Chlorophyll a
Light penetration
Mega-, macro-,
meio- and
microfauna
Microbial analysis
Fluorometric measurement
Depth of euphotic zone measured
with Secchi disk
Profiling ultraviolet radiometer used
to study special nature of light in
euphotic zone
Samples fixed with formalin and
dyed with rose Bengal; after 24 hrs,
wet-sieved through larger-than-1-
millimetre, 300- and 45-micron
sieves to measure abundance and
identify mega-, macro-, meio- and
microfaunal components
Total bacterial counts – samples
fixed with formalin, sonicated,
filtered, stained and mounted on
glass slides; slides observed
under epifluorescence
microscope for identification and
total counts
Colony-forming units (CFUs) –
selective isolation of groups of
microorganisms carried out using
Zobell Marine Agar, Malt Extract
and Kusters’ medium; after 7-10
days, number of CFUs counted
from plates
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 533