Difference between revisions of "Field Preparation"

Revision as of 19:38, 1 February 2017

Statement of Purpose

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

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.

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.

Budget and Funding

• Determine an estimated budget for the collecting trip that includes transportation (to country/region and within local area), housing, food, costs associated with personnel (e.g., per diem for field assistants, local guides), equipment, supplies, permits, and required travel documentation.
• Apply for funding well in advance if needed.
• Include costs associated with long-term storage of specimens and samples in any Data Management Plans for funding (e.g., NSF)

Long-term storage of specimens

• Determine where the specimens will be deposited for long-term storage if you are not associated with a natural history collection
• Contact the Collection Manager to determine if the collection recommends specific preparation protocols for specimens or tissues.

Logistics

• Transportation

- Try to determine all domestic methods of transportation that might be needed and make arrangements before arriving in country if possible

- Motor vehicle accidents are the #1 killer of U.S. citizens in foreign countries because roads may be poorly maintained, traffic laws may be haphazardly followed or enforced, and emergency care may not be readily available or of high standards. If possible, hire a driver when renting a vehicle. If you must drive, be aware of the traffic laws, and avoid driving in developing countries at night.

• Lodging

- Try to determine where you will stay while collecting specimens and make arrangements before arriving if possible

• Personnel (e.g., field assistants, local guides)

- Ensure that any hired guides speak the language and are knowledgeable of the local culture.

• Visas

- Give yourself time to apply for required visas. Contact the embassy of the foreign countries you will be visiting for more information.

- Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of emergency. Leave one copy at home (e.g., with spouse, at institution) and carry the other separately from your documents in case of loss or theft.

• Health Precautions

- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide recommendations for vaccinations and other travel health precautions for your trip abroad.

- Make sure that you are up-to-date with routine vaccinations and schedule and additional needed immunizations needed for travel.

- Some countries may require proof of specific vaccinations (e.g., Yellow Fever), so read about your destination.

- Some prophylactic medications may need to be taken before entering the country, so plan accordingly.

- Get a letter from your doctor for medications you are bringing. Some countries have strict laws, even against over-the-counter medications, so read about your destination before you go.

• Identify cultural norms of your destination (e.g., challenges associated with disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, or gender-identity)

- For additional information, see U.S. Department of State https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/checklist.html

• Emergency Response Plans

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

- Have information regarding institutional global emergency response program information (medical and security services) if applicable.

- Carry contact details for the nearest embassy or consulate with you in English and the local language.

• Money

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

- Check exchange rates before you travel.

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

• Baggage Requirements

- Find out the rules for all international and national flights regarding both checked and hand luggage and make sure that you can cover any additional fees if you go above the allowance by number of items, size (i.e., dimensions) or weight, which may be determined for each item or the combined total.

- Research the banned and restricted items for both checked and hand luggage.

Supplies and Equipment

When packing, ensure that most packaging is removed from new items, and pack small items inside larger ones. Retain a detailed list of everything and its location (i.e., which bag or box) to allow you to locate items easily.

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

Generally, you can take insulated packaging containing refrigerated liquid nitrogen (dry shipper) in your hand or checked baggage. It needs to be fully absorbed in a porous material and only contain non-dangerous goods. See [

-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

Food

Links

References