Instrument: Manual Biota Sampler

Instrument Short Name: Manual Biota Sampler
(http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L05/current/90/)
Instrument Description:

"Manual Biota Sampler" indicates that a sample was collected in situ by a person, possibly using a hand-held collection device such as a jar, a net, or their hands. This term could also refer to a simple tool like a hammer, saw, or other hand-held tool.

PI supplied instrument name: SCUBA and hand-held pneumatic core drill
Dataset-specific description

Cores were extracted by SCUBA divers using a 2-horsepower hand-held pneumatic core drill (CP 315; Chicago Pneumatic; Westfield, Massachusetts) affixed with a hollow extension rod (5 cm in diameter, 90 cm in length) and a wet diamond core bit (5 cm in diameter, 30 cm in length). Compressed air from SCUBA cylinders located on a boat was used to power the pneumatic drill. Drilling each core required a total of 5 to 8 standard size SCUBA cylinders and approximately 30–45 minutes of continuous drilling. Coral cores, approximately 20 to 100 cm in length, and 5 cm in diameter, were collected from the center of each coral colony parallel to the coral’s vertical growth axis. Cores were extracted from colonies that appeared healthy and were without any obvious abnormalities, scarring, bleaching, or disease. Coral samples were collected from colonies between depths of 4 and 5 m within each of the three reef zones. After extracting each core, a concrete plug was inserted into the drilled holes and sealed with Zspar underwater epoxy.