Métodos para el muestreo, extracción, procesamiento, e identificación de meiofauna. Más información sobre el uso de meiofauna en investigaciones aplicadas, como evaluaciones de impacto ambiental
Muestreo
Sampling can take two forms either Quantitative or Qualitative. Typically meiofauna are heterogeneously distributed so a larger number of small samples are generally better than few large samples. Before you start sampling be sure to establish a sampling regime appropriate to answering your hypothesis. Also be sure that your replicates are replicates and not pseudoreplicates. Also consider whether you require live or fixed specimens, the identification of some groups, Turbellaria for example, is easier with live specimens. Meiofauna will survive for a reasonable length of time in the sample container, however be sure to remove large macrofauna before transport or they will consume all the oxygen in the sample. Most researchers use formalin (5-10%) for fixing samples.
Quantitative
Muestreo cuantitativo de playas de arena expuestas
Muestreo cuantitativo de planicies marinas
Muestreo cuantitativo de playas rocosas
Qualitative
Muestreo cualitativo de ambientes sedimentales
Muestreo cualitativo de playas rocosas
Extracción
The methods for extracting meiofauna from the sampled habitat depends on whether the meiofauna are alive or dead. Many meiofaunal groups have mechanisms, such as the duo-gland system, for position maintenance. When the sample contains live fauna the extraction methodology needs a stage which either negates their position maintenance strategy (osmotic shock or anesthetisation) or forces them to move out of the habitat (Uhlig’s method). With fixed samples most extraction methodologies rely on the different settling rates of the meiofauna and the substrate.
Extracción de meiofauna usando decantación simple
Extracción de meiofauna usando la técnica flotación con Ludox
Método de Uhlig con hielo de agua de mar
Anestesia con cloruro de magnesio isotonico
Método de choque osmótica con agua dulce
Procesamiento
Fijación con formalina
Fijación con formalina Fluido de Bouin
Identificación
Análisis genética
Investigaciones Aplicadas
Evaluaciones de impacto ambientales
Ecotoxicología