A practice in the extraction of gastrotrichs from marine and freshwater sediments

Abstract

A methodological study established the recommended period and frequency to observe samples of marine and freshwater lotie sediment in order to identify the highest number of gastrotrich species in a given locality. Results revealed that a different protocol should be employed for sediments from the two environments. In sea water, the search for the gastrotrichs should be usually concentrated in the first two weeks, in particular in the first week in summer and autumn, with frequent, if possible daily, observations. In freshwater sediments, observations can be spread more over time, while the best period is from three weeks to over six weeks after collection of the sediment, when species not seen in the preceding weeks may still be found. © 1998 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.