Sampling and processing meiofauna

Meiofauna will be sorted out of sediment samples from both the Van Veen grab and the box corer. The top layer of the sediment from the box corer is scooped of and put into a bucket with seawater and the Van Veen grab is emptied into another bucket with seawater. Meiofauna often have adhesive features, so to make sure we get most of the organisms out of the sediment we will add an isotonic MgCl2 solution to half of the samples. This will anesthetize the organisms and thereby prevent them from sticking to the sediment. By stirring the sample, both with or without MgCl2, we can now force the living organisms out of the sediment and into the surface water. The surface water is then decanted through a 30µm or 60µm sieve and the meiofauna captured in the net can now be sorted out using an dissecting microscope. Further tales of my experience with using the microscope while sailing will probably come. But as the waves are now I'm happy that I brought pills to prevent seasickness...