Difference between revisions of "Field Preparation"

Revision as of 18:20, 1 February 2017

Statement of Purpose

These links and documents contain information about how to prepare for fieldwork that includes collecting specimens.

Introduction

Packing for field collection trips can be a difficult task. Most researchers have size and weight restrictions imposed by their means of transportation or the amount that they can physically carry. The information included in this page should be used as a checklist during the preparation stage of a collecting trip. It is recommended that you contact someone that has recently worked in the country or region where you will be traveling or your local collaborator to determine if there are specific items that you should or should not take with you. Sometimes purchasing specific items or borrowing them from a local collaborator upon arrival is a preferred option.

Contributors

Major editor: Breda Zimkus; an outline for this content was first generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting - 2016, during an iDigBio sponsored workshop with contributions from the following individuals participating in the "Field to Database" Group: Cesar Aguilar, Ben Frable, Meredith Mahoney, Zachary Randall, David Wernecke, and Breda Zimkus.

Arrange long-term storage of specimens (if needed)

• Coordinate with museums where specimens will be deposited to determine if there are specific protocols/methods that should be followed.
• Data Management Plans for funding (e.g., NSF) should include long-term storage of specimens and samples.

Logistics

• Transportation
• Housing
• Local guides

- Ensuring that guides are compatible with local culture

• Visas, travel documents
• Immunizations and other personal medical preparations (WHO has guidelines), health/travel insurance
• Identify cultural norms of destination (e.g., challenges associated with disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, or gender-identity)

- For additional information, see https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/checklist.html

• Institutional global emergency response program information (medical and security services)

- Register trip with home institution or leave travel information with departmental administration

• Money

- Notify your bank and credit card company of your travel so accounts are not closed due to suspicious activity

- Check exchange rates

- Find out details regarding use of cash versus debit/credit cards and availability of ATMs

Supplies and Equipment

Materials Acquisition

Researchers should contact in-country contacts or others who may have recently worked in similar localities to determine if it is possible to buy specific chemicals in country to avoiding shipping or traveling with hazardous goods. See details regarding specific chemical agents in Shipping and Handling of Dangerous Goods.

• Chemical Agents

- Euthanasia agents

Euthanasia methods should be painless, achieve rapid unconsciousness and death, require minimum restraint, avoid excitement, should be suitable for the age, species, and health of the animal, must minimize fear and psychological stress in the animal, should be reliable, reproducible, irreversible, simple to administer (in small doses if possible), and safe for the operator. In the U.S., the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) ensure that all projects involving the use of live vertebrae animals comply with federal regulations and guidelines, and they review the appropriateness of proposed euthanasia methods.

- Specimen preservatives (e.g., formalin, alcohols)

- Tissue preservatives

- Bleach for sterilization of equipment (including boots, waders) between sites

• Consumables

- Tissue vials/tubes

- Tube labeling pen/scribe

- Needles/plungers/syringes

- Gloves (e.g., nitrile)

- Desiccants (for electronics or specimens)

- Dissection kit

• Forceps
• Scalpel handle/razor blades
• Scissors
• Dissecting probe
• Sterilization method for tools
• Spoon for handling aquatic larvae
• Hand lens
• Scales

-Field Notebook

-Archival pens, paper, write-in-rain

-Specimen tags (pre-numbered field tags or museum tags; metal tags not recommended)

-String or T anchors for specimen tags

-Maps/gazetteer

-Field guides/identification aids

-Storage for live animals

Note: animals being swabbed for chytrid should always be stored individually to prevent cross-contamination.

• Plastic Bags
• Cloth Bags, snake tubes
• Plastic Containers
• Bubbler for live fish
• Coolers
• Storage container(s) for euthanizing animals

-Storage container for prepared animals and tissue samples

• Plastic bottles/jars/ tupperware
• Liquid nitrogen dry shipper or dewar

-Shipping materials

• Cheese cloth/paper towel

-Plastic bags and heat seal equipment

Note: Triple-heat sealing required for shipment or transport of specimens preserved in specific chemicals; see Shipping and Handling of Dangerous Goods for additional details.

• Hard plastic containers (e.g., buckets, barrels)
• Dry shipper

-Container/tray and scrub brushes for post-site sterilization of equipment

• Field equipment, gear, clothing (boots, waders, etc.) should/must be disinfected between field sites. This prevents movement of infectious agents or invasive plants/organism between sites by field researchers.
• Some states require a different seine for each watershed, not reusable until it is bleached and dried, or dried completely for 48 hrs.
• On return to home institution, keep all gear in loading dock (outside) until cleaned/disinfected before bringing into collection or storage.

Disinfection guidelines: NEPARC http://northeastparc.org/disinfection-protocol/; SEPARC https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0RIvato4N7peFhxVHFMU2lSQUE/view; Preventing aquatic hitchhikers: http://www.protectyourwaters.net/prevention/

Equipment

• Measuring and monitoring equipment

- GPS or compass

- Thermometer (air and water temp, organism temperature recorders)

- Ecological or habitat data equipment (e.g., flow meter, pH, salinity, humidity meter)

- Drone

• Photography, video, sound equipment (including batteries, chargers)

- Digital storage media

• Laptop

Do not assume that electricity will be available in remote sites.

• Collecting equipment

- Flashlights, spotlights, head lamps

- Trowel/shovels

- Snake hook

- Nooses/poles for lizards

- Blowguns for arboreal species

- Drift fences and buckets for terrestrial species

- Funnel traps (including bait)

- Nets, seines for fish

- Stump ripper

- Small garden rake

- Electro fishing equipment

- Rotenone

- Cover board material

• Camping Equipment

- Flashlights, headlamps, lanterns

- Tents

- Cooking equipment

- Water purification equipment

-Machete

-Tarps

-Waterproof bags

-Toilet paper

• First Aid

-Band Aids

-Gauze

-Crepe bandages (ACE or elastic bandages)

-Blister plasters

-Small scissors

-Forceps/tweezers

-Antiseptic wipes

-Pain relief medication

-Anti-diarrheal medication

-Antihistamine

-Antihistamine cream

-Antibacterial creams (e.g., Neosporin)

-Snake Bite

-Sea-sickness medication

-Epi-pen (if needed)

-Antibiotic used to treat bacterial infection

-Malaria prophylaxis

• Satellite Phone
• Backups for when equipment fails

Links

References