Thank you David, Paul, and Ron! Some good suggestions in your replies!

Where I go in the Leeward Islands the maximum tidal range is one foot, so a lot of the time there is almost no intertidal zone... crazy huh?

Anyone have experience in requesting/paying folks who work in a scuba business to grab you a good sample of sediment from the sea bottom off the edge of a coral reef underwater?

Susan

> On Feb 22, 2015, at 1:07 AM, Ron G. Noseworthy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Hi, everyone!
> 
> I've got a few comments on working with microshells, which are plentiful here on Jeju Island.
> 
> When you are collecting micros, don't forget the "algal turf" (bryozoa, branching coralline algae, and short, thick seaweeds) which often covers rocks exposed at low tide.  This can often be a good place to collect live micros.  Simply tear off a bagful of the turf and take it home for processing. 
> 
> Also, rock brushings can be quite productive, using a moderately stiff brush and a bag to hold the brushings.  I use a shoe brush and a large ziplock bag.  I have found that, although the tops and sides of the rocks are good, the bottoms of the rocks may hold the most micros.  One person can brush fairly well, but a two-person operation, one to hold the rock and the other to brush and hold the bag, is much more productive.  I have obtained many micros, live and dead, using this method.
> 
> Also, if time permits, when you find a good driftline that contains micros, take time to remove the larger shells and fragments, and any other material, before you sift for micros. Whenever possible, take a small backpack to hold your sample and sieves, small kitchen sieves with at least two different-sized meshes,   Sift only small samples, dividing them into separate bags, so that when you sort out the micros later there will be a greater percentage of them.
> 
> Collecting micros can be an enjoyable experience; the real work begins when you start to identify them.
> 
> All the best from Korea!
> Ron
> 
> 
> 
> On Sun, 2/22/15, Callomon,Paul <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Screening
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Received: Sunday, February 22, 2015, 12:16 PM
> 
> #yiv4814661984 P
> {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}
> Something
> that's worked for me in the past is to go to a hardware
> store and buy a roll of mosquito netting for windows. Cut
> some sheets and take them with you - it weighs nothing.
>  When you get there, find an old tin can and a rubber band.
> Presto - field sieve.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Paul
> Callomon
> 
> Collection Manager, Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology
> and General Invertebrates
> 
> 
> Academy of Natural Sciences of
> Drexel University, Philadelphia
> 
> [log in to unmask] Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax
> 215-299-1170
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Conchologists List
> [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of David Campbell
> [[log in to unmask]]
> 
> Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2015 9:38 PM
> 
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Screening
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> To separate the truly micro (<1 mm) from
> silt and clay, a very lightweight sieve option is a nylon
> stocking.  Also pretty good as a plankton net - stick a
> plastic jar in the toe, put a rubber band around the top of
> that jar, stick a can with
>  both ends cut off at the knee to hold it open and rubber
> band that in place, tie a string through the top end of the
> can (punch some holes in the sides). 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sat, Feb 21, 2015
> at 7:14 PM, Susan J. Hewitt and/or Ed Subitzky
> <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Both good ideas. However where I stay in the West Indies is
> not a hotel or a motel or a time share. There is no-one to
> receive a Fedex. I would have to greatly inconvenience a
> friend or acquaintance by shipping it to them and having
> them deliver it to me later.
> 
> 
> 
> I understand the idea of leaving stuff behind, and I do that
> every time to some extent, but I prefer to re-use rather
> than discard if at all possible.
> 
> 
> 
> Another advantage of packable sifters etc is that if I am
> lucky enough to get a day trip to another island, I can put
> the equipment in my backpack and take it with me.
> 
> 
> 
> Susan
> 

----------------------------------------------------------------------
[log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs
To leave this list, click on the following web link:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1
Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and
click leave the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------