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Soil and sediment sampling

eDNA Soil / Sediment Sampling Instructions Start here: Watch the Soil Sampling Instructional Video

Supplies​

If you are using our standard soil kit, you will have a Whirl-Pak with 3 tubes. These 3 tubes are biological replicates. Replicates should be collected from about a foot apart from each other. Be sure to always keep the tubes in the same Whirl-Pak together.

Instructions​

Below are instructions for collecting your sample that complement the video from above. If you need help, please don’t hesitate to call Julie Stanford at 650-799-7225. 1

Follow the map to your sampling site or choose sites you think would be interesting to sample.

Please remember:

  • Select sites that are off the trail or any thoroughfare unless that is what you are interested in learning about.. 2

Record the site and kit information in the app webform we provided to you (most likely Koboforms). Also record backup information on a piece of paper just in case the digital data is corrupted or take screenshots.

Remember:

  • Record the label on the tube.

  • Take GPS Coordinates to a resolution of <50m.

  • If possible, take notes on environmental parameters.

  • Always have a paper/screenshot backup 3

Collect your sample.

Summary: Put on your gloves, using new ones for each site. Fill each of the 3 tubes with soil. Step by step procedure:

  • Put on your gloves.

  • Clear debris or leaf litter with a stick. Make sure you are not sampling where you stepped.

  • Fill the tube with soil or sediment to the 1.8mL mark by scraping the surface soil with the tube.

  • Repeat step 3 for the other replicate tubes with soil or sediment from about 1 foot apart in a triangle or line.

  • Place closed tubes in Whirl-Pak. Seal the bag by rolling the top of the bag and twisting the yellow tie, and place in the CALeDNA Box provided.

  • Dispose of gloves in a trash bag and try to keep items you've used separate from the clean ones. 4

Take one photo that you think best captures the ecosystem you sampled in and upload.

Record any additional notes or observations that you think might be relevant (e.g. you forgot to put your gloves on, dropped the top of the tube, the tube fell in a pond, the site had poison oak, you saw a bear, squirrel, fish, etc.). 5

List any species that you see and know on the webform. You can also take photos and look them up in iNaturalist (a great app/site for identifying species in photos) and/or add the photos in the web form.

When done sampling - how to preserve and mail samples:​

Please keep the samples at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. If it will take you a couple of days to send the eDNA kit to us please keep it in the fridge (not the freezer). Regardless, send the eDNA kit to us as soon as possible so that the eDNA doesn’t degrade and the microbial community within the sample can’t adapt and change due to their new environment (the vial). Tape the box(es) up securely, and drop them in a mailbox with postage, take them to your local post office or use UPS or FedEx to mail them back.

Ship to​

CALeDNA, attn: Rachel Meyer

Coastal Biology Building, UCSC​

130 McAllister Way rm 143

Santa Cruz, CA 95060​

Source document: Google Doc