AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATE SUBSAMPLING EQUIPMENT

• US 20130104674A1
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
• Original Assignee: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
• Inventors: De Oliveira, Renata Bley, Baptista, Darcilio Fernandes, Mugnai, Riccardo
• Granted Patent: US 9,513,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/863.23
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/90 Sorting, grading, counting or marking live aquatic animals, e.g. sex determination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/10 in the liquid or fluent state burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/12 Dippers; Dredgers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/18 with provision for splitting samples into portions G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence; fraction-collection apparatus for chromatography B01D15/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/1012 Suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/186 using one or more living organisms, e.g. a fish

Abstract

The present invention refers to the subsampler and to a subsampling method that allows for the execution of environmental monitoring without the use of large sample volumes, thus ensuring specimen wealth and expedited analyses.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising an external tray with a drainage system, an internal tray, a separator and optional support legs, wherein the internal tray fits into the external tray and the apparatus is adapted for subsampling of a water macroinvertebrate.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reinforcement edge adapted to assist in supporting a weight of the apparatus and keeping a shape of the apparatus, a water outlet system, a leg support system, and a system adapted for correctly positioning the apparatus, wherein the external tray is sized so as to receive a sample of the water macrovertebrate.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the external tray has dimensions from 60×

50×

16 to 36×

36×

10 cm.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the water outlet system is equipped with a tap or threaded cap.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the system adapted for correctly positioning of the apparatus is of a bubble or pendulum type.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external tray comprises a water drain at a bottom of the external tray, a net to filter biota and sediment matter and, on an outer side of a base of the apparatus a support system with optional handles.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drainage system comprises a water drain outlet with holes equally distributed on a base of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the support system is arranged in parallel to a water flow line so as to jointly avoid a loss of tray shape and a backflow phenomenon.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the support system is S-shaped.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the biota and sediment filter net is sized from 500 μ

m to 1 mm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separator comprises a set of plates that fit each other in a perpendicular manner, with 24 quadrats sized according to an internal box in which they are to fit perfectly, and optionally comprising handles.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the legs comprise rods that can vary in number, provided they are not less than four, being optionally adjustable or folding, or altogether optional.

13. A method for subsampling water macroinvertebrates using the apparatus of claim 1, said method comprising the steps of:

a) correctly positioning the apparatus on a surface;

b) adding to the internal tray a substrate collected in water;

c) removing large-sized materials;

d) draining part of the water via an opening of the water drainage system, without fully removing the water;

e) adding to the apparatus an anesthetic solution so that organisms in the apparatus are sensitized;

f) homogenizing the substrate;

g) fitting the separator on the internal tray;

h) opening the water drainage system to release the anesthetic solution;

i) randomly removing the substrate from the selected quadrats; and

j) storing the substrate collected in step (i) in a solution adequate for transportation to a laboratory.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the anesthetic is reversible.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the reversible anesthetic is gaseous water.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein there are 4 to 6 quadrats.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the adequate solution to transport the material consists of organic compounds.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the organic compounds are members selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, a formaldehyde, and mixtures thereof.