Development of fluorescent staining method and effect of fluorescent staining on benthic invertebrate picking efficiency

Publication Date

2023-12-11

Start Date

2014

End Date

2015

Carter, G.S., Eschenberg, H.J., Eggleston, M.R., and Kowalski, K.P., 2023, Development of fluorescent staining method and effect of fluorescent staining on benthic invertebrate picking efficiency: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ACWGLJ.

Benthic invertebrates are widely used as indicators of water quality because their density and community composition are responsive to environmental conditions. Separating invertebrates from sample residue is a tedious time consuming task that is often costly. Many invertebrate groups are inconspicuous and require minute attention to detail to ensure all individuals are collected. Using a fluorescent dye to stain invertebrates in benthic samples in conjunction with fluorescent lighting to make specimens glow in relation to sample residue is a method that can facilitate more efficient removal of benthos from collected samples; however, it has not been well investigated. This study evaluated standard sample picking methods using white light and various fluorescent dye and lighting methods to determine if fluorescence increased picking efficiency. Furthermore, this study developed a staining procedure to apply fluorescent dye and lighting to invertebrate samples in such a way as to maximize contrast between invertebrates and the detritus they were collected with.

• Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC)
• USGS Data Release Products

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